So Many Pills, So Little Clarity

Duenwald reports on the increasing numbers of medications that Americans are taking each year. An all time record (3.36 million billion) of prescriptions were filled last year. And, many times patients are not fully educated on the potential side effects of the medications or contraindications. Therefore, more and more Americans are at risk for harmful side effects unless they receive adequate information about the drugs that are being prescribed. Unfortunately the drug manuals are cumbersome and online guides may not be reliable. "To find a good online site, look for those that offer unbiased information, said Eileen Early, the editor of electronic health information for the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Doing a key-word search using a specific drug name may get you to a site operated by the pharmaceutical company that makes it, Ms. Early said."
This is good information for healthcare providers who wish to educate their clients.