What are high-alert medications?

High-alert medications are defined as those that have a higher potential to cause significant patient harm when they are misused or administered incorrectly. This definition emphasizes the importance of careful handling and monitoring of these drugs to mitigate risks associated with their use. Examples of high-alert medications include anticoagulants, insulin, and chemotherapeutic agents, which can lead to serious complications if dosages are incorrect or if they interact adversely with other medications.

The other options do not accurately capture the critical nature of high-alert medications. Medications that are inexpensive and easily available, do not require a prescription, or have common side effects do not inherently carry the same potential for severe patient harm if mismanaged. Therefore, the distinction of high-alert medications lies in their capacity to cause significant adverse effects, which makes option B the only accurate descriptor in this context.