NKDA in Medical Records: What It Means

What Does NKDA Mean in Medical Terms?

NKDA stands for No Known Drug Allergies. It tells doctors, nurses, and pharmacists that a patient has not reported any allergies to medications.

This abbreviation is part of standard medical documentation to prevent adverse drug reactions.

Where You’ll Commonly See NKDA

You might notice NKDA in:

• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Hospital admission forms
• Doctor’s office visit notes
• Pharmacy records
• Surgical consent forms

It’s usually placed in a visible spot so all members of the healthcare team can see it before prescribing or administering drugs.

Why NKDA Is Important in Patient Care

Knowing whether a patient has drug allergies helps avoid dangerous reactions such as rashes, swelling, breathing problems, or even life-threatening anaphylaxis.

About 4 in 1,000 people visit the ER each year for drug reactions, many of which could be avoided with accurate NKDA records.

NKDA vs Other Allergy-Related Abbreviations

Here’s how NKDA compares to other common abbreviations:

• NKA - No Known Allergies (covers drugs, food, and environmental allergens)
• NKFA - No Known Food Allergies
• NKMA - No Known Medication Allergies

Each abbreviation specifies the type of allergies (or absence of them), and NKDA focuses specifically on drug allergies.