Monday, November 28, 2011

Adverse Drug Events from Opioid Analgesics

In the United States, the use of opioids (narcotics) (analgesics) as part of pain management systems has contributed to an epidemic of poisoning. Between 1999-2002, the poisoning of opioid analgesics poisoning surpassed cocaine and heroin as the most common type of drug intoxication in death certificates.

The increase in drug intoxication coincides with an increase in the prescription of the main types of opioid analgesics, as physicians were encouraged to prescribe stronger analgesics (ie opioids) for pain management. When sales of opioid analgesics increased occurrences of opioid analgesics on death certificates increased at a similar rate. The overall objective should be to identify ways to reduce deaths from opioid analgesics without diminishing the quality of care of patients with a legitimate need for pain management.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Adverse Drug Events from Select Medication Classes and Antibiotics

Antibiotics are one of the major classes of drugs as a result of emergency room visits for adverse drug events. There are more than 140,000 visits to emergency rooms reactions to antibiotics each year. 


In general, antibiotics are responsible for almost one in five (19%) emergency room visits for adverse drug events

In children (18 years or less), antibiotics are the most common cause of emergency room visits for adverse drug events

Nearly four in five (79%) ED visits for antibiotic-associated adverse reactions are due to allergic reactions.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Adults and Elderly aAdverse Drug Events - Medication Safety

Medicines cure infectious diseases, avoid chronic diseases, and relieve pain and suffering for millions of Americans every day. But the medication can cause harm. When someone has been harmed by a medication, who have had an adverse effect. To reduce the risk of harm from adverse drug events than adults:

  •  Keep a list of your medicines 
  •  Follow directions 
  •  Keep up with the blood tests recommended by your doctor
  •  Some drugs require blood tests and these are more likely to cause serious adverse effects. 
  •  Unintentional overdose of painkillers cause many deaths 

Some medicines may not be effective in improving your health

Antibiotics can kill bacteria but not viruses. Most colds, coughs, throat, flu, sore throat and nasal congestion are caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics for viral infections not cure viral infections, prevent others from catching the disease, or help you feel better.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Medication Safety: Young Children and Adverse Drug Events

When someone has been harmed by a medication, who have had an adverse effect. To reduce the risk of harm from adverse drug events in young children, parents should:
  • Always replace the cap and store the medicines out of reach of children
  • Carefully give medicines as directed on the label or as directed by a doctor or pharmacist
  • The use of prescription and OTC only when necessary.
Some medicines may not be effective in improving children´s health:

1. Antibiotics can kill bacteria but not viruses. Most colds, coughs, throat, flu, sore throat and nasal congestion are caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics for viral infections not cure viral infections, prevent others from catching the disease, or help your child feel better. Although antibiotics are good drugs for certain types of infections, which are also the type of drugs that cause the majority of emergency visits for adverse drug events. An estimated 40,000 children are taken to emergency rooms each year due to adverse events of antibiotics.

2. Cough and cold medicines do not cure the common cold. Although cough and cold medicines can be used to treat common cold symptoms in older children should not be used in children under 4 years of age. Coughing too much and cold medicines can cause serious injury or even death in children.