Despite significant increases in drug utilization, hospitalizations for adverse effects have declined in Canada.

Drug utilization in Canada increased 37 percent from 228 million prescriptions in 1995 to nearly 313 million prescriptions in 2001 . As Canada’s population ages this trend is likely to continue as more Canadians will rely on medicines to manage and treat chronic conditions. With increased drug utilization, one would expect the potential for adverse effects from prescription drug use to increase. Yet, the percentage of hospital stays in Canada attributable to the adverse effects of medical agents has remained relatively constant from 1995 to 2001 accounting for only approximately 0.6 percent of all hospitalizations annually.

During this period, hospitalizations for all causes have dropped as have the number of hospitalizations for the adverse effect of medical agents. In 1995 there were 21,741 hospital separations in Canada for the adverse effects of medical agents. This number dropped to 17,423 by 2001 .

Medicines undergo rigorous testing and clinical trials before being approved for use. But, individuals react differently to medications, so patients and physicians should fully discuss the benefits and risks associated with any drug before making the decision to embark on a new therapy. Despite the recent media attention on the safety of prescription drugs, the decline in hospitalizations for adverse effects underscores the continual improvement in the essential safety of prescription drug products.