What is a contraindication?
A contraindication (lat. contraindication) is a circumstance in which one may not use a certain medication, because otherwise it can lead to dangerous, health damages.
Such a circumstance could be an acute cold or a chronic disease such as rheumatism. However, pregnancy and breastfeeding, a certain age (especially children and people over 65) or the regular use of other medications can also constitute a contraindication.
The reasons for contraindications are manifold. Some drugs have too weak or too strong an effect under certain conditions. In pregnant women, they can harm the unborn child or interact with other drugs.
For example, the well-known painkiller acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) causes stomach problems as a possible side effect. Most people who take the drug for a short time do not notice this at all. But in patients with stomach ulcers, it could make the symptoms worse. Existing stomach ulcers are therefore a contraindication with this agent.
How do absolute and relative contraindications differ?
Absolute contraindication
An absolute contraindication would be, for example, if the drug has such serious side effects that its use is not permitted under any circumstances. In the case of acetylsalicylic acid, in addition to active gastric ulcers, these would be, for example, an abnormally increased bleeding tendency and the last trimester of pregnancy (3rd trimester).
Relative contraindication
In the case of relative contraindications, on the other hand, the physician can decide on an individual basis. It is true that there is a certain health risk associated with the use of the drug in question. However, if the expected benefit is greater than this, the physician may still prescribe the drug to the patient.
Relative contraindications for acetylsalicylic acid include the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy (1st and 2nd trimesters), bronchial asthma, and children and adolescents up to the age of 12.
