Admissions to Hospital due to Drugs. Issue 5643 (1st March 1969)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hurwitz, Natalie
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 1:Issue 5643(1969)
• Page Start: 539
• Page End: 540
• Publication Date: 1969-03-01
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.5643.539
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : In a survey of adverse drug reactions in wards of two Belfast hospitals for 52 weeks in 1965–6, 2·9% of 1, 268 patients seen were admitted to hospital because of adverse reactions to drugs taken for therapeutic reasons and 2·1% were admitted because of self-poisoning. Patients admitted because of adverse drug reactions were older than those admitted because of self-poisoning and stayed in hospital longer. Among the drugs which caused the adverse reactions were digitalis preparations, antibiotics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, analgesics, and tranquillizers. Hypersensitivity and side-effect types of reactions were the most common. Barbiturates were the most frequently used drugs in suicidal attempts.