Tag: Secondary action

While most people are aware that medications have intended effects, a significant percentage of adverse drug reactions are predictable secondary effects based on the drug's known pharmacology. Understanding what is the secondary action of medicine is crucial for both healthcare professionals and patients to manage therapy effectively and anticipate potential outcomes beyond the main goal.

According to the World Health Organization, an adverse drug reaction is a 'response to a medicine which is noxious and unintended, and which occurs at doses normally used in man for the prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of disease, or for the modification of physiological function'. These are often related to a drug's **secondary action**, which refers to any effect produced by a medication other than its primary, intended therapeutic effect. These additional actions can be either beneficial or detrimental to a patient's health.

Over 80% of adverse drug reactions are classified as Type A, meaning they are a predictable result of a drug's known pharmacology. This critical insight underscores the importance of comprehending **what is a secondary action in pharmacology**, which encompasses any effect a medication has besides its desired therapeutic outcome. These additional actions can be either beneficial or harmful, and understanding them is paramount for safe and effective drug use.