Adverse effects of medical treatment
3Curable in someAI-generated
Corticosteroids transformed treatment of adverse drug effectsAI-generated
Burden-over-time charts — how many people this disease affects and whether that number is rising or falling — are coming to this page. The treatability read, milestones, and live trial pipeline below are current.
Milestones
dot size = significance- 1950Cortisone acetate approved (FDA)
- 1952Hydrocortisone approved (FDA)
- 1955Prednisone approved (FDA)
- 1955Prednisolone approved (FDA)
- 1958Dexamethasone approved (FDA)
- 1959Methylprednisolone acetate approved (FDA)
- 1959Dexamethasone phosphoric acid approved (FDA)
- 1959Methylprednisolone hemisuccinate approved (FDA)
- 1960Triamcinolone acetonide approved (FDA)
- 1963Acetylcysteine approved (FDA)
What's being tested now
Trials started per year, stacked by phase (darker = later phase). Source: ClinicalTrials.gov via Clin2, which tracks studies recruiting in recent years — early years undercount.
See all 204 active Adverse Drug Event trials on Clin2 →Where we are
AI-generatedAdverse effects of medical treatment are curable in some cases, with specific antidotes for certain drug toxicities. Mortality from severe reactions has declined over decades as treatments like corticosteroids became widely available. The approval of cortisone acetate in 1950 marked a pivotal milestone, enabling better management of inflammatory and allergic reactions. While not all adverse effects are reversible, the overall trajectory shows steady improvement in outcomes.
- Can all adverse drug reactions be cured?
- No, but some have specific antidotes, such as acetylcysteine for paracetamol toxicity. Many inflammatory reactions respond to corticosteroids, though severe cases may still be fatal.
- Are deaths from adverse effects decreasing?
- Yes, mortality has generally declined over the past decades due to better treatments and monitoring, though precise rates vary by drug and reaction.
- What was the first major treatment for adverse reactions?
- Cortisone acetate, approved in 1950, was a landmark corticosteroid that improved management of allergic and inflammatory reactions.
- Are there new treatments being developed?
- Yes, over 200 trials are currently active, including phase 3 studies, exploring better ways to prevent and treat adverse drug effects.
- Do all patients have access to these treatments?
- Access varies; not all treatments are universally available, and specific antidotes depend on the drug and reaction.