Most common side effects of prescription drugs in the United States
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Common Adverse Drug Events in the United States: Overview
Prescription drugs in the United States are associated with a wide range of side effects, some of which can be serious and lead to hospitalization, especially among older adults. Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant public health concern, with millions of emergency room visits and hospital admissions each year due to medication side effects, errors, or overdoses. The risk of side effects increases with the number of medications taken, a phenomenon known as polypharmacy, which is particularly prevalent among older adults .
Most Frequent Side Effects of Prescription Drugs
Oral Side Effects: Xerostomia, Dysgeusia, and Stomatitis
Among the 200 most frequently prescribed drugs, the most common oral side effects are:
- Xerostomia (dry mouth): Reported in 80.5% of cases.
- Dysgeusia (altered taste): Reported in 47.5% of cases.
- Stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth): Reported in 33.9% of cases.
These oral side effects are widespread and can significantly impact quality of life, especially for those on long-term medication regimens .
Gastrointestinal Side Effects: Dyspepsia and Peptic Ulceration
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are commonly prescribed for pain and inflammation, frequently cause gastrointestinal side effects. The most common are:
- Epigastric pain/indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Peptic ulceration
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage and, in severe cases, perforation
These side effects are a leading reason for discontinuing NSAIDs or requiring additional medications to manage symptoms. NSAID-related gastrointestinal complications result in tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths annually among older adults in the U.S. .
Systemic and Other Notable Side Effects
Some prescription drugs can cause less commonly recognized but significant systemic side effects. For example, topical ophthalmic timolol, a medication for glaucoma, has been associated with:
- Sexual dysfunction, including impotence, decreased libido, and reduced ejaculate volume .
Opioid-Related Adverse Events
Opioids, widely prescribed for pain management, are linked to a high number of adverse drug events. Oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine account for over half of opioid-related ADEs. Some opioids, such as meperidine, oxymorphone, tapentadol, and hydromorphone, are particularly over-represented in ADE reports relative to their prescription rates. These events include not only side effects but also misuse, overdose, and death .
Polypharmacy and Increased Risk in Older Adults
Polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications, is common among older adults in the U.S., with over 40% taking five or more prescription drugs daily. This increases the risk of serious, sometimes life-threatening side effects, and contributes to millions of emergency room visits and hospitalizations each year .
Conclusion
The most common side effects of prescription drugs in the United States include oral issues like dry mouth and altered taste, gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion and ulcers, and systemic effects like sexual dysfunction. Opioids and NSAIDs are particularly associated with serious adverse events. The risk of side effects is heightened in older adults and those taking multiple medications, underscoring the importance of careful medication management and monitoring for adverse drug events Garber2019Smith1994Liu2023+2 MORE.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Oral side-effects of the most frequently prescribed drugs.
The three most common oral side-effects of the 200 most frequently prescribed drugs in 1992 were xerostomia (80.5%), dysgeusia (47.5%), and stomatitis (33.9%).
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