Question

Your friend is given an antianxiety medication before a medical procedure.

Rather than relaxing, however, your friend becomes agitated and starts
shouting at people. This type of reaction is known as an_________?

Answer 1

A paradoxical reaction is when a medication has the opposite effect of what is expected, such as an anti-anxiety medication leading to agitation. It differs from anaphylactic shock, which is a severe allergic reaction and is treated with epinephrine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction described where a medication intended to reduce anxiety causes agitation instead is known as a paradoxical reaction. This is a phenomenon where the effect of a medication is opposite to what would typically be expected. In the context of anti-anxiety medication, instead of calming, it may result in increased anxiety, agitation, or other opposite effects. It's important to note that this is different from anaphylactic shock, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction that can result in respiratory distress, plummeting blood pressure, and requires immediate treatment with epinephrine. While anaphylactic shock involves a systemic type I hypersensitivity reaction, a paradoxical reaction does not necessarily involve the immune system and is not life-threatening in the same way anaphylaxis is. Paradoxical reactions can occur with various drugs and are a known, albeit rare, side effect.