Four drugs cause nearly 100,000 emergency room admissions each year

A new study explains the majority of emergency room (ER) visits in the United States are caused by just four drugs.

Researchers from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) performed a study analyzing four types of drugs – insulins, oral hypoglycemic drugs, oral antiplatelet medications, and warfarin. The study showed improper management of many anti-diabetic drugs may be a major factor in emergency room admissions, and the improvement could potentially significantly reduce the number of required ER visits.

The New England Journal of Medicine published this study. Key issues from the study include accidental overdoses and being cautious of adverse reactions to specific medications.

The study showed that almost 100,000 emergency room visits each year are linked to negative side effects from these drugs, including allergic reaction and accidental overdose. Almost 50 percent of all hospitalizations were to individuals over the age of 80.