What is a Medication-Related Problem?

A medication-related problem is an event or situation involving drug
therapy that negatively interferes with a patient’s health.

Medication-related problems can be categorized eight ways:

1. Untreated conditions - The patient has a medical condition that requires
   drug therapy but is not receiving a drug for that condition.
   
   
2. Drug use without indication - The patient is taking a medication for no
   medically valid condition or reason.
   
   
3. Improper drug selection - The patient’s medical condition is being treated
   with the wrong drug or a drug that is not the most appropriate for the
   special needs of the patient.
   
   
4. Subtherapeutic dosage - The patient has a medical problem that is being
   treated with too little of the correct medication.
   
   
5. Overdosage - The patient has a medical problem that is being treated with
   too much of the correct medication.
   
   
6. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) - The patient has a medical condition that is
   the result of an adverse drug reaction or adverse effect. In the case of
   older adults, ADRs contribute to already existing geriatric problems such as
   falls, urinary incontinence, constipation, and weight loss.
   
   
7. Drug interactions - The patient has a medical condition that is the result
   of a drug interacting negatively with another drug, food, or laboratory test.
   
   
8. Failure to receive medication - The patient has a medical condition that is
   the result of not receiving a medication due to economic, psychological,
   sociological, or pharmaceutical reasons.

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