Which term describes a factor that makes the use of a drug or treatment inadvisable?

• A. Precaution
• B. Caution
• C. Warning
• D. Contraindication

Answer: (D)

A contraindication is a factor that makes the use of a drug or treatment inadvisable because it would pose an unacceptable risk to the patient. It can be absolute (the drug should never be used, e.g., a severe allergy to the medication or pregnancy with a teratogenic drug) or relative (use only if benefits outweigh risks and with close monitoring). This is different from a precaution, which signals the need for caution but doesn’t automatically prohibit use, and from a warning, which alerts to potential risks but may still allow use under certain conditions. So the term that best describes a factor making use inadvisable is contraindication.