What does contraindication mean?

• A. A drug that is always safe.
• B. A condition or factor that makes administering a drug unsafe or inappropriate.
• C. A preferred route.
• D. The time to administer.

Answer: (D)

A contraindication is a condition or factor that makes giving a drug unsafe or inappropriate. It means there are situations where the risks of treatment outweigh the benefits, so the medication should not be given (or should be used with extreme caution). Examples include an allergy to the drug, a condition that would be worsened by the drug (such as hypotension when a medication lowers blood pressure), or a drug interaction that could cause harm. In practice, you evaluate for contraindications before administering any medication and withhold or choose an alternative if one is present. The other options do not fit because they describe safety, route preference, or timing, not reasons to avoid treatment.