What happens if I have a bad reaction to a medication?

In Plain English

If you experience a bad reaction to a medication, it's considered an adverse event. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) monitors these events to identify potential safety risks. You, your healthcare provider, or the manufacturer can report these events. The TGA uses this information to improve the safety of therapeutic goods and alert the public about any risks.

Detailed Explanation

When a person experiences a negative outcome related to a therapeutic good, it is classified as an adverse event. This event may range from mild, expected reactions to severe events, including death, as described in the Therapeutic Goods (Information Specification—Database of Adverse Event Notifications) Instrument 2023.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) uses reports of adverse events to monitor the safety of therapeutic goods and identify safety signals. These signals are investigated and used to inform patients, health practitioners, and the public about potential risks.

The Therapeutic Goods (Information Specification—Database of Adverse Event Notifications) Instrument 2023 also mentions the Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN), which includes databases for medicines and medical devices. Members of the public, including consumers, health practitioners, sponsors, and manufacturers, can search these databases to view data about adverse event reports.