adverse drug reaction

February 25, 2026

Patients with atrial fibrillation face higher bleeding risks when treated with 2 common medications

While diltiazem remains an effective option for heart rate control in selected patients, bleeding risk posed by anticoagulants should be considered.

By Jake Lowary
December 11, 2024

Study uses AI to cast light on harmful drug-drug interactions

Using AI, a team identified a gap in post-market drug safety: not all published reports of dangerous drug interactions are taken up by recognized purveyors of drug safety information.

By Paul Govern
(iStock)
October 16, 2024

Study of severe drug reactions finds skin cells activate their own assassins

Single-cell analysis reveals the inner workings of the life-threatening adverse drug reactions Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

By Paul Govern
May 19, 2022

A clue to an adverse drug event in children

Considering metabolic (CYP2D6) enzyme activity score and patient age may aid in determining an individual’s risk for an adverse event with administration of the anti-arrhythmic drug propafenone.

By Joshua Baker
June 17, 2021

Drug allergy labels in medical records power searches for gene-drug associations

By Paul Govern
January 7, 2021

Building a cohort, the easy way

An automated system using keyword searches can help identify candidates for clinical trials on adverse drug reactions.

By Paul Govern
October 1, 2020

Genes spell penicillin allergy risk

Studies using large DNA biobanks revealed genetic variants associated with penicillin allergy, the most common type of drug-induced allergic reaction.
By Paul Govern
July 18, 2019

Effort seeks to improve safety of drugs given during pregnancy

A 19-year-old student is leading a multi-institutional collaboration to identify drugs that can be prescribed safely to pregnant women without harming the fetus.
By Bill Snyder
February 28, 2019

Gene identified that increases risk of antibiotic reaction

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues have identified a gene that increases the risk for a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to the commonly prescribed antibiotic vancomycin.
By Bill Snyder
November 15, 2018

Immunotherapies linked to specific heart complications

In the first large-scale analysis of cardiovascular complications linked to immune checkpoint inhibitors, Vanderbilt researchers have shown that heart and vessel complications include myocarditis, pericarditis, vasculitis and arrhythmias, and that they occur early in the course of treatment.
By Tom Wilemon
May 31, 2018

Team seeks to shed light on rare immune-mediated adverse drug reaction

Thirty years ago when she was 16, Katie Niemeyer was prescribed carbamazepine for depression. Three weeks later she was in a St. Louis, Missouri, burn unit with second and third degree burns all over her body. “My parents were told the chances of me surviving were slim,” she said.
By Bill Snyder
May 7, 2018

Records point to drug-drug interaction

Patients who take a cholesterol-lowering statin drug while taking the antibiotic daptomycin have increased risk of developing muscle weakness or a more severe form of muscle damage.
By Paul Govern
December 21, 2016

Daughter’s rare adverse drug reaction inspires family’s donation

Last year Paul and Wanpen Anderson of Champaign, Illinois, were preparing to celebrate the Christmas holidays with their two children when their 22-year-old daughter, Angela, developed a rare adverse drug reaction called SJS/TEN.
By Bill Snyder