If an adverse reaction occurs, what should you do?

• A. Continue and monitor
• B. Stop treatment and notify the care team
• C. Increase dose
• D. Switch the medication yourself

Answer: (B)

When something adverse happens with a medication, the top priority is patient safety: stop giving the drug immediately to prevent further exposure and potential harm, then alert the care team so a qualified clinician can assess, treat if needed, and decide next steps. Stopping the medication allows time to determine the cause of the reaction and prevent it from getting worse, while the care team can evaluate severity, provide appropriate interventions (such as antihistamines, steroids, or emergency care if needed), and determine whether to switch to a different therapy or adjust the plan. Continuing the dose or increasing it would likely worsen the reaction, and making a switch without orders or medical guidance could introduce new risks. The key steps are to discontinue the drug, monitor the patient, and notify the team for proper assessment and management.