I couldn't believe that I was reading this article on Medscape, the modern medical bible, about the ten most dangerous psychiatric drugs prescribed today. Another crack in the pharmaceutical wall . . . .
Ten prescriptive drugs are sending patients to the ER adding up to 90,000 visits per year. Sedatives and anti-anxiety meds are at the top of the list. Antidepressants account for more than 25,000 visits, antipsychotics for 22,000, lithium salts for 3620 and stimulants for 2779. 1 in 5 required hospitalization. Aren't these meds supposed to reduce the number of ER visits?
The top ten list begins with Ambien, a sedative often prescribed for sleep, Seroquel, an atypical anti-psychotic that patients are on for cognitive decline, Xanax, anti-anxiety, Ativan, sedative and anti-anxiety, Haloperidol, an antipsychotic, Clonazepam, a sedative and anti-anxiety, Trazadone, an antidepressant, anti-anxiety and sedative, Celexa, an antidepressant, Lithium salts, mood stabilizer and Risperidone, an antipsychotic.
Ambien is the number one medication that accounts for more than 10,000 visits compared to Risperidone at number ten for 3700 visits. Ambien is the most likely to cause adverse reactions. These ER visits are increased because doctors are prescribing them for off-label use.
