Sobering Facts On Prescription Drugs

Just because your doctor prescribes the drugs doesn't mean the medication you're taking is 100% trustworthy. Keep in mind that prescription drugs are generally safe if you follow directions, but it's up to you to take an active role in your own health. So don't hesitate to quiz your physician about the medication's risks. Consider these facts:

• Prescription drugs cause about 100,000 deaths every year and one million injuries severe enough to require hospitalization.



• About two million injuries were caused by prescription drugs during hospital care.



• 75% of patients are not informed about known side effects of prescribed drugs.



• 51% of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1976 and 1985 had important risks not detected in the initial testing.



• When new warnings are reported to doctors, very few pass the information on to their patients.