Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is defined as any response to a drug which is harmful and unintended, and which occurs at doses normally used in man for prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of disease, or for the modification of physiological function. An increased understanding of the prevalence and nature of ADRs, as well as recognition of patients perspectives on quality of life, would enable us as a profession to identify and target specific areas for vigorous pharmaceutical care. It is important to identify the risks for ADRs as they are life threatening, henceforth the common drugs causing ADRs, their therapeutic class, demographic data of patients suffered from ADRs and concomitant medications used should be known. Also, ADR specific data such as type of reaction, system affected and probable causes will be of great help to minimize the ADRs. The process of defining and concluding about ADRs should be continuous and ongoing to keep a record of newly marketed drugs and medicinal products. More over strict drug analyzing, clinical data and in vivo study is also required if feasible. This article focuses on the adverse reaction and its assessment methods.
