In an Emergency Room, where life saving decisions have to be made quickly, the Rx InfoCard is probably the most important piece of information you could carry.

Clear communication of your prescriptions is critical in avoiding adverse drug reactions.

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) are incidents when a patient reacts negatively with drug(s) or when drugs react with other drugs that are already in a patient.

ADRs are the 4th leading cause of death ahead of pulmonary disease, diabetes, AIDS, pneumonia, accidents and automobile deaths.

What you should you know about ADRs!

1. "2 Million serious adverse drug reactions yearly"
2. "100,000 ADR deaths yearly"
3. "Nursing home patients ADR rate - 350,000 yearly"
4. "Ambulatory patients ADR rate - unknown"

1. "Two-thirds of patient visits result in a prescription."
2. "2.8 BILLION outpatient prescriptions filled in 2000 (10 per person in the United States)"
3. "ADRs increase exponentially with 4 or more medications"

Keep an accurate list of all your medications.

It is critical for your safety to communicate your prescription.

AARP: How to Protect Yourself from the Healthcare System:
"Keep a list of medications you are taking"
"Be sure all your doctors know what you are taking"
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