According to a report published in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 100,000 Americans are killed every year by prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and a further 2.1 million are seriously injured. The report found that such reactions (which do not include prescribing errors or drug abuse) rank at least sixth among causes of death in the United States-behind heart disease, cancer, lung disease, strokes and accidents.

Researchers at the University of Toronto estimated that an average of 106,000 deaths occur annually at US hospitals due to bad reactions to drugs.

"Serious adverse drug reactions are frequently. . . . more so than generally recognized," the researchers noted.

Source: CNN Internet website,
http://cnn.com/HEALTH/9804/14drug.reaction/index.html