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Drugs & Adverse Effects / Eighty Percent of US Adults Take At Least One Drug a Week
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submitted by Dr. Gary Farr - Contact the author here.
Last Updated February, 3, 2002
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One in six Americans taking a prescription drug is also taking one or more herbal or dietary supplements, raising concerns about the possibility of adverse interactions.
Overall, more than 80% of adults in the US take some type of medication in any given week with half taking a prescription drug.
About 7% of the population takes five or more prescription drugs in any given week and 25% take five or more of any type of drug, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter pain relievers and cold remedies, herbal supplements like ginkgo biloba or St. John's wort and vitamin and mineral supplements.
Adverse reactions to drugs are among the leading causes of hospitalization and death in this country.
JAMA January 16, 2002;287:337-334]
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