Drug complaints reach record high

Drug side-effects reached an all-time high in 2004, according to the FDA. Roughly 422,500 adverse-event were reported by pharmaceutical companies, health professionals and patients, up nearly 14% from the 370,887 reports filed in 2003.

The bulk of the reports comes from drug manufacturers, which the FDA requires to file details of all known adverse events involving their products. Doctors, nurses and patients also file, but their reports are voluntary. As a result, the annual totals are believed to cover only a percentage of the actual number of serious drug reactions and problems.

Courtesy of Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY 3/14/2005