All articles A–Z

Drug-induced angioedema

Drug-induced angioedema (ICD-11 EH61.1): non-allergic swelling caused by drugs, chiefly ACE inhibitors via bradykinin accumulation; nonpruritic, without urticaria, unresponsive to antihistamines, treated by drug withdrawal and off-label bradykinin-targeted agents.

Drug-induced aplastic anaemia

Drug-induced aplastic anemia is rare, life-threatening bone marrow failure caused by a drug, suppressing production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets; chloramphenicol is the classic cause.

Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Drug-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA, drug-induced AIHA) is a rare hemolytic anemia, about 1–2 per million, caused by drug-dependent or drug-independent antibodies; cefotetan and ceftriaxone now lead, replacing methyldopa and penicillin.

Drug-induced bronchospasm

Drug-induced bronchospasm (medicament-induced bronchospasm), ICD-11 4A80.0, is airway narrowing triggered by drugs such as NSAIDs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and contrast media; 2% of Swiss ADR reports, 55% serious.

Drug-induced chorea

Drug-induced chorea (ICD-10 G25.4; ICD-11 8A01.16) is involuntary, rapid, irregular choreiform movement caused by prescribed or illicit drugs, including levodopa, neuroleptics, antiepileptics, stimulants, and oral contraceptives; it usually resolves on stopping the drug, except tardive dyskinesia.

Drug-induced colitis

Drug-induced colitis (ICD-11 DB33.43) is medication-caused inflammation or ulceration of the large intestine, from NSAIDs, PPIs, antibiotics, chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, mimicking IBD; stopping the drug is the key treatment.

Drug-induced cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Drug-induced cutaneous lupus erythematosus is medication-triggered lupus skin disease, usually a subacute cutaneous lupus rash linked to more than 100 drugs and resolving after withdrawal.

Drug-induced cytopenia

Drug-induced cytopenia: medication-caused falls in red cells, neutrophils, or platelets via marrow suppression or immune peripheral destruction; includes agranulocytosis, immune thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia.

Drug-induced dystonia

Drug-induced dystonia is a movement disorder of involuntary muscle contractions causing twisting movements and abnormal postures, caused by drugs such as antipsychotics and antiemetics in acute or tardive forms.

Drug-induced erythroderma

Drug-induced erythroderma (ICD-11 EH64; drug-induced exfoliative dermatitis) is erythema and scaling over >90% of body surface caused by a drug, excluding DRESS, AGEP, and TEN; latency 1–2 weeks, resolution 2–6 weeks after stopping the drug.

Drug-induced gastric ulcer

Drug-induced gastric ulcer (ICD-11 DA60.62), mainly NSAID- and aspirin-caused stomach ulceration via COX-1 inhibition and prostaglandin depletion; also potassium chloride, bisphosphonates, steroids with NSAIDs, mycophenolate; prevented by PPIs, misoprostol, COX-2 inhibitors.

Drug-induced gastritis

Drug-induced gastritis (ICD-11 DA42.83, medicament-induced gastritis) is gastric mucosal injury from drugs, chiefly NSAIDs and aspirin, via COX inhibition and topical toxicity; prevented and treated with PPIs.

Drug-induced gout

Drug-induced gout is gout that develops as a side effect of medications, usually diuretics and other drugs that reduce renal urate excretion, or that follows rapid urate lowering.

Drug-induced hypertension

Drug-induced hypertension is high blood pressure caused by medicines and substances ranging from NSAIDs and decongestants to corticosteroids and licorice, often reversible by discontinuing the offending agent.

Drug-induced hypotension

Drug-induced hypotension is low blood pressure caused by a medication, arising through reduced sympathetic activity, vasodilation, or diuresis; a 2025 review identified more than 250 implicated drugs.

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DIL, DILE) is a reversible, lupus-like autoimmune syndrome caused by drugs such as procainamide, hydralazine, and TNF inhibitors, marked by antihistone antibodies and resolving after drug withdrawal.

Drug-induced megaloblastic anemia

Drug-induced megaloblastic anemia is macrocytosis and megaloblastic marrow change caused by medications that interfere with folate or vitamin B12 handling or with DNA synthesis directly, with methotrexate a leading culprit.

Drug-induced myasthenia gravis

Drug-induced myasthenia gravis (ICD-11 8C60.0): MG caused de novo or worsened by drugs, via immune mechanisms (checkpoint inhibitors, penicillamine) or impaired neuromuscular transmission (macrolides, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, magnesium).

Drug-induced myopathy

Drug-induced myopathy (ICD-11 8C80) is medication-caused skeletal muscle disease, from myalgia to rhabdomyolysis. Statins are the leading cause; risk factors include interacting drugs, renal disease, and hypothyroidism.

Drug-induced myotonia

Drug-induced myotonia is delayed relaxation of skeletal muscle after contraction, caused by drugs such as colchicine, chloroquine, and statins rather than inherited disease, and it is usually reversible on withdrawal.

Drug-induced nail abnormalities

Drug-induced nail abnormalities: nail changes from toxicity to the nail matrix, bed, or periungual tissues, mainly from chemotherapy, taxanes, EGFR inhibitors, retinoids, and indinavir; usually transient, sometimes painful.

Drug-induced nonautoimmune hemolytic anemia

Drug-induced nonautoimmune hemolytic anemia, also called drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA), is rare hemolysis (about 1 per million) caused by drug-dependent antibodies, nonimmunologic protein adsorption, oxidative damage, or microangiopathy, most often from antibiotics like cefotetan, ceftriaxone, and piperacillin.

Drug-induced obesity

Drug-induced obesity (ICD-11 5B81.1), obesity caused by weight-gaining medications such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, corticosteroids, and insulin, with gains up to 10 kg at 52 weeks.

Drug-induced oesophagitis

Drug-induced oesophagitis (pill esophagitis, ICD-11 DA24.21): oesophageal inflammation from medication, usually a pill lodging and dissolving in the oesophagus; antibiotics, alendronate, NSAIDs, potassium chloride; self-limiting in 1-2 weeks.

Drug-induced osteonecrosis

Drug-induced osteonecrosis is bone death caused by medication rather than trauma or radiation; the jaw form, MRONJ, was first linked to bisphosphonates in 2003, while glucocorticoids most often damage the femoral head.

Drug-induced osteopenia

Drug-induced osteopenia (ICD-11 FB83.04) is medication-caused low bone mineral density, short of drug-induced osteoporosis. Key causes: glucocorticoids, aromatase inhibitors, ADT, PPIs, anticonvulsants, thyroxine.

Drug-induced osteoporosis

Drug-induced osteoporosis: medication-caused secondary bone loss and fractures, led by glucocorticoids (GIOP, fractures in 30-50% of chronic users), also PPIs, SSRIs, aromatase inhibitors, ADT, anticonvulsants, and thiazolidinediones.

Drug-induced parkinsonism

Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP), or iatrogenic parkinsonism, is reversible parkinsonism caused by dopamine-blocking or dopamine-depleting drugs such as antipsychotics and metoclopramide; normal DaTSCAN imaging and recovery within 6-12 months of withdrawal distinguish it from Parkinson's disease.

Drug-induced polyneuropathy

Drug-induced polyneuropathy (DIPN) is a disorder of many peripheral nerves caused by medications, typically producing numbness, tingling, and burning pain, and often triggered by chemotherapy drugs.