|
< Back
Dangerous Drug Interactions
“Adverse drug events, which include medication errors and interactions, are the 6th leading cause of death, killing at least 100,000 people annually”*
Roughly 2 1/2 billion prescriptions are filled in the U.S. pharmacies every year. Americans take a lot of medicine and with so many drugs out there, mishaps are almost bound to happen.
Medication mismanagement is common among the elderly population. Over-and-under prescribing, noncompliance, over the counter medications, inadequate monitoring and a host of other issues all contribute to adverse drug reactions in the elderly. Chronic disorders like high blood pressure, diabetes, pulmonary or respiratory problems are conditions which often have to be treated by several different specialty physicians. It is easy for multiple prescribers to add on medicines without seeing the big picture.
Buyers beware of the startling statistics and take a proactive approach to medication management.
* Journal of the American Medical Association, 1998
|
