Adverse Drug Reactions

Telmisartan is a long-acting angiotensin II receptor blocker widely used for hypertension management. Although generally well tolerated, it has been associated with various adverse drug reactions (ADRs) ranging from mild symptoms to serious events. To review telmisartan’s ADR profile from a clinical pharmacist’s perspective and illustrate key insights through a case of drug-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). A comprehensive literature review and analysis of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India data were conducted. A 40-year-old male who developed pre-renal AKI following dose escalation of telmisartan is presented. Common ADRs include dizziness, headache, diarrhoea, and respiratory symptoms. Serious reactions encompass hyperkalemia, angioedema, hypotension, and AKI. PvPI reports have highlighted rare cutaneous reactions such as lichenoid keratosis. In the case study, serum creatinine rise from 1.3 to 1.8 mg/dL within 48 hours of increasing the telmisartan dose and normalized after discontinuation. Vigilant monitoring and pharmacist-led interventions are essential to detect and manage telmisartan-related ADRs, optimize therapy, and ensure patient safety.

Omeprazole, a widely prescribed proton pump inhibitor (PPI), is a cornerstone therapy for acid?related gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, and Zollinger–Ellison syndrome. While generally safe and effective, prolonged or inappropriate use has been linked to a spectrum of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Common ADRs include headache, abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and flatulence, which are usually mild and self?limiting. However, serious complications—such as Clostridioides difficile infection, interstitial nephritis, hypomagnesemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, bone fractures, hepatotoxicity, and severe cutaneous reactions—though rare, pose significant clinical challenges. Risk factors influencing ADR incidence include treatment duration, high dosage, advanced age, polypharmacy, comorbid conditions, and genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19 metabolism, which alter drug bioavailability and efficacy. Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in mitigating these risks through therapeutic optimization, monitoring of laboratory parameters, early identification of drug interactions, and patient education. Evidence?based deprescribing strategies and routine safety surveillance are essential to minimize preventable harm while preserving therapeutic benefit. This review highlights the clinical significance of omeprazole?associated ADRs from a pharmacist’s perspective, emphasizing the importance of rational prescribing, vigilant monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration in ensuring patient safety.

Corticosteroids are the drugs used for multifarious diseases because of their widespread action. It is suggested that these drug use should not be ceased rapidly, rather than it should be finished gently. Due to their diversity of actions and uses, more no of interactions with the drugs and diseases were recorded. It is well known that there is a strong relationship between corticosteroid use and psychiatric effects. Both the steroid induced psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis are uncertain. Hence Pharmacists are the best person to mould a suitable drug therapy and a management regimen for corticosteroids induced adverse events in patients. They can also play an important role in educating the patients about corticosteroids and their psychic disturbances. Since physicians do not take any interest in to alert the patients about the usage, interactions and highly severe psychiatric problems of steroids, the need of pharmacists becomes very important.