Making Us Sick

Drug-induced illness is the leading cause of preventable disease in older men and women. It is estimated that each year:

* 61,000 older Americans suffer drug-induced Parkinsonism (tremors).

* 32,000 suffer hip fractures from drug-induced falls.

* 163,000 suffer drug-induced memory loss.

* 659,000 are hospitalized because of drug reactions, including 41,000 hospitalized for treatment of ulcers caused by arthritis drugs and hundreds of thousands cases of drug-induced fainting spells.

Source: “Worst Pills, Best Pills II” (using reports from federal agencies and medical journals)