Medication Safety Reference

Critical information for special patient populations

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Pregnancy

Critical medication safety information for pregnant patients and fetal protection.

Absolute Contraindications

  • Isotretinoin (Accutane)

    High risk of severe birth defects

    Category X - Strict pregnancy prevention program required

  • Warfarin (Coumadin)

    Fetal warfarin syndrome (1st trimester)

    Consider LMWH or UFH alternatives

Use with Extreme Caution

  • ACE Inhibitors

    Fetal renal damage (2nd/3rd trimester)

    Switch to labetalol or nifedipine if possible

  • More medications coming soon

Lactation

Medication considerations for breastfeeding mothers and infant safety.

Contraindicated

  • Lithium

    30-50% milk:plasma ratio

    Monitor infant for toxicity symptoms

  • Codeine

    Ultra-rapid metabolizer risk

    FDA recommends avoiding in breastfeeding

Require Monitoring

  • Fluoxetine

    Long half-life in infants

    Consider alternatives with shorter half-lives

  • More medications coming soon

Renal Impairment

Dosing adjustments and contraindications for patients with kidney disease.

Dose Adjustment Required

  • Gabapentin

    Renally excreted unchanged

    Dose reduction needed for CrCl <60

  • Vancomycin

    Narrow therapeutic index

    Therapeutic drug monitoring required

Contraindicated

  • Metformin

    Lactic acidosis risk

    Avoid if eGFR <30 (some guidelines say <45)

  • More medications coming soon

Hepatic Impairment

Medication metabolism considerations for liver disease patients.

Dose Adjustment Required

  • Atorvastatin

    Increased exposure

    Max 20mg/day in severe impairment

  • Rivaroxaban

    Increased bleeding risk

    Avoid in Child-Pugh B/C cirrhosis

Contraindicated

  • Valproate

    Hepatotoxicity risk

    Avoid in significant liver disease

  • More medications coming soon

Cardiovascular

Special considerations for patients with heart conditions.

QT Prolongation Risk

  • Azithromycin

    Increased QT interval

    Avoid in patients with known QT prolongation

  • Ondansetron

    Dose-dependent QT effect

    Max single dose 16mg IV

Heart Failure Precautions

  • NSAIDs

    Fluid retention

    May worsen heart failure symptoms

  • More medications coming soon

Geriatric

Medication safety for older adults (Beers Criteria considerations).

Potentially Inappropriate

  • Diphenhydramine

    Anticholinergic effects

    Higher risk of confusion, falls, dry mouth

  • Proton Pump Inhibitors

    Long-term risks

    Deprescribe when no longer needed

High Risk Medications

  • Benzodiazepines

    Cognitive impairment risk

    Avoid for insomnia, agitation, or delirium

  • More medications coming soon

Pediatric

Special medication considerations for children and adolescents.

Contraindicated

  • Aspirin

    Reye's syndrome risk

    With viral infections in children

  • Tetracyclines

    Tooth discoloration

    Avoid <8 years except for specific indications

Dosing Considerations

  • Codeine

    Respiratory depression

    Contraindicated <12 years post-tonsillectomy

  • More medications coming soon

Allergies

Common medication allergens and cross-reactivity patterns.

High Risk Allergens

  • Penicillins

    Most common drug allergy

    ~10% cross-reactivity with cephalosporins

  • IV Contrast

    Anaphylaxis risk

    Premedicate high-risk patients

Severe Reactions

  • Sulfonamides

    Stevens-Johnson risk

    Non-antibiotic sulfas generally safe

  • More medications coming soon

Psychiatric Conditions

Special considerations for patients with mental health disorders and psychotropic medications.

Serotonin Syndrome Risk

  • SSRI/SNRI Combinations

    Risk with multiple serotonergic drugs

    Monitor for agitation, hyperthermia, autonomic instability

  • Linezolid + SSRIs

    MAOI-like activity

    Consider temporary SSRI discontinuation if possible

Metabolic Monitoring

  • Second-gen antipsychotics

    Weight gain, diabetes risk

    Monitor weight, glucose, lipids regularly

  • More medications coming soon

Oncology

Special considerations for cancer treatments and supportive care medications.

High Risk Chemotherapy

  • Cisplatin

    Nephrotoxicity risk

    Requires aggressive hydration and renal monitoring

  • Doxorubicin

    Cardiotoxicity (lifetime dose limit)

    Monitor LVEF with cumulative doses >300mg/m²

Targeted Therapy

  • VEGF Inhibitors

    Hypertension, bleeding risks

    Hold for surgery (typically 4 weeks pre/post)

  • More medications coming soon

Diabetes

Safety considerations for antidiabetic medications and comorbidities.

Hypoglycemia Risk

  • Sulfonylureas

    High hypoglycemia potential

    Particularly risky in elderly and renal impairment

  • Insulin

    Dosing errors common

    Confirm type (U-100 vs U-500) and administration route

Organ-Specific Risks

  • SGLT2 Inhibitors

    Euglycemic DKA risk

    May require temporary discontinuation during illness

  • More medications coming soon

Neurology

Special considerations for neurological medications and conditions.

Seizure Threshold

  • Bupropion

    Lowers seizure threshold

    Avoid in patients with seizure history or eating disorders

  • Tramadol

    Seizure risk at high doses

    Max 400mg/day in adults, lower in renal impairment

Neuroprotective Agents

  • Valproate

    Hyperammonemia risk

    Monitor ammonia levels with encephalopathy symptoms

  • More medications coming soon