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Side effects/adverse reactions to medications

In this section

  1. 1
    Introduction
  2. 2
    Duty of Care
  3. 3
    Royal Pharmaceutical Society principles
  4. 4
    Responsibilites
  5. 5
    Training and competency
  6. 6
    Information required before staff may assist with medication
  7. 7
    People assessed as able to manage their own medication
  8. 8
    Prompting/assisting with/administering medication
  9. 9
    Side effects/adverse reactions to medications
  10. 10
    Medication administration errors and incidents
  11. 11
    Ordering/receiving medication supplies
  12. 12
    Storing medication safely
  1. 13
    Continuity of care
  2. 14
    Returning medication at the end of service/disposal of unwanted medication
  3. 15
    Controlled drugs
  4. 16
    Medication records and data protection
  5. 17
    Medication audits
  6. 18
    Emergency Planning
  7. 19
    Concerns and complaints
  8. 20
    Implementing, monitoring and reviewing policy
  9. 21
    Appendix 1
  10. 22
    Appendix 2
  11. 23
    Appendix 3 - legal context
  12. 24
    Policy Details

9.1    If someone becomes unwell after taking a new medication, this may be caused by the medication or a reaction with another medication.  

9.2    If a side effect or adverse reaction is suspected, staff must immediately:

  • seek and follow medical advice from the person’s GP or the NHS 111 health line
  • call 999 if the person is having difficulty breathing
  • advise a line / on call manager as appropriate 
  • record what happened and actions taken on the MAR and in the case notes
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