3 Drug reasons one goes to the ER

There are 3 drugs that have been associated with increased risk of ER  visits. If you are taking coumadin (warfarin), digoxin or insulin, make sure you have open communication with your doctor so that if problems occur, you could hopefully avoid a hospital visit.  

I have also seen a lot of people taking glyburide, a diabetic medication, end up in the ER with low blood sugar.  Glipizide, which works similarly, seems to be a safer alternative and has less complications

TUESDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) — Side effects from just three drugs are responsible for a full third of all U.S. emergency room visits by senior citizens who had adverse reactions to medications, a new study found.

In 2004 and 2005, the blood thinner warfarin, the diabetes drug insulin and the heart drug digoxin caused about 58,000 emergency room visits a year in those 65 and older, the researchers found.

The major problem is that it’s hard to determine the correct dose for each drug, said study lead author Dr. Daniel Budnitz, a medical officer with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read more about it here….