3-fold rise in adverse drug reactions since the FDA began a new reporting system in 1998. Pain killers and immunomodulators are causing more adverse drug reactions. 20% of drugs accounted for 87.1% of adverse effects. These findings are reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Moore and his colleagues analyzed the entire serious adverse drug reactions submitted to the FDA through its Adverse Event Reporting System, commonly known as MedWatch reports.
Adverse events are those defined as resulting in death, a birth defect, disability, hospitalization or requiring intervention to prevent harm.
The number of such events grew from 34,966 in 1998 to 89,842 in 2005. During the same period, the number of deaths rose from 5,519 to 15,105. From 1998 to 2005, the number of prescriptions written each year grew by 25%.
Women were involved in 55.5% of the events. A disproportionate share occurred among the elderly — a full third of events in a group that accounts for 12.6% of the population. Children group is surprisingly reporting fewer drug side effects compared to adults.
Top 6 drugs causing deaths:
Oxycontin, Fentanyl, morphine, acetaminophen and methadone are the pain killers. The sixth was the antipsychotic drug Clozapine. Appearance of Acetaminophen (over the counter drug) in the list is a concern.
Top drugs causing the most non-fatal adverse events:
Estrogens, Insulin, interferon beta, Paroxetine, Clozapine, Oxycontin, warfarin and Fentanyl. Paroxetine is an antidepressant, interferon beta is used to treat multiple sclerosis and cancer, and warfarin is an anti-clotting agent. Appearance of Insulin in the list is a serious concern.
The study found the two top drugs listed in fatal reports were powerful painkillers oxycodone and fentanyl and were attributed to about 9,000 deaths. Other drugs in a list of top 15 drugs cited in death reports included anti-psychotics and acetaminophen, the active ingredient in over-the-counter pain drugs like Tylenol as well as prescription drugs.
