Shedding Light on the Risks
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Contraindication
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When a drug or medical procedure could harm a patient, the advice not to use it is called a contraindication.
There are two kinds of contraindications:
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Relative contraindication means that a certain treatment is generally not recommended due to another procedure or medication a person is taking, but it may still be used if the benefits outweigh the risks. For example, most people taking warfarin (a blood thinner) are usually advised to avoid aspirin because it can increase the risk of major bleeding side effects. However, in patients with a high risk of stroke, using both medications might be appropriate under close medical supervision.
Absolute contraindication means that the risks would be so severe for the patient that the medication or procedure should not even be considered. For example, if someone is pregnant, it’s recommended they never take Isotretinoin (Accutane) as it can result in severe birth defects.
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