Which of the following is considered a high-risk medication?

Anticoagulants are considered high-risk medications primarily due to their potential to cause serious adverse effects, particularly bleeding complications. These medications, which include drugs such as warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), require careful monitoring of their effects on blood clotting. Even small dosing errors or unexpected interactions with other medications or dietary changes can lead to significant health risks like hemorrhagic events.

In the context of pharmacy practice, recognizing anticoagulants as high-risk medications underscores the importance of thorough patient education, vigilant monitoring of laboratory parameters (such as INR for warfarin), and awareness of potential drug interactions. This also highlights the necessity for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to ensure accurate dispensing and patient counseling regarding the use of these medications.