Learning Objective:
Recognize classic respiratory adverse drug reactions and associate them with their causative medications, a frequent focus on the USMLE Step 1.
| Drug Reaction | Causal Agents | High-Yield Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry cough | ACE inhibitors | Due to bradykinin accumulation; resolves after discontinuation or switch to ARB. |
| Pulmonary fibrosis | Methotrexate, Nitrofurantoin, Carmustine, Bleomycin, Busulfan, Amiodarone | Progressive dyspnea and nonproductive cough; may show interstitial infiltrates on imaging. Classic Step 1 association: Bleomycin → lung toxicity. |
USMLE Step 1 Memory Aid 🧠
Pulmonary fibrosis = “BAM-NBC”
Bleomycin
Amiodarone
Methotrexate
Nitrofurantoin
Busulfan
Carmustine
