Could Your Medicine Be One Reason You End Up in Hospital?
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You wake up feeling dizzy. Your chest feels uncomfortable, your breathing becomes difficult, or your blood sugar is unusually high.
You may think your illness is getting worse, so you go to the emergency department.
The waiting area is crowded. Patients and family members are waiting anxiously to be seen.
But have you ever wondered how many hospital admissions may involve not only the illness, but also a medicine-related problem?
A Malaysian study found that nearly 4 in 10 admissions assessed in two medical wards were related to adverse drug events. This does not mean that medicine is poison. In many cases, the treatment simply did not control the patient’s condition well enough.
Is Medicine Really “Poison”?
Many people worry that medicines may damage the liver or kidneys. Some may even say, “Medicine is also a type of poison.”
But this is too simple.
When used correctly, medicine can control disease, prevent complications and save lives. The more important question is whether it is the right medicine and dose for that person.
The same medicine may work well for one person, cause side effects in another, or provide less benefit to someone else.
What Did the Study Find?
Researchers assessed 1,124 admissions in two medical wards at a Malaysian government hospital.
They found that 443 admissions, or 39%, were related to adverse drug events.
These included:
- Treatment that did not work well enough
- Unwanted reactions or side effects
- Medication errors
- Drug overdose
The largest problem was therapeutic failure. This means the treatment did not achieve its intended result.
For example, blood pressure may remain too high, blood sugar may still be poorly controlled, asthma may worsen, or chest pain may continue.
Why May Medicine Work Differently?
A medicine may not work as expected for many reasons.
A person may miss doses, take it incorrectly, use another product that interferes with it, or experience changes in kidney or liver function.
Genetics may also be one factor.
Our genes can influence how the body processes certain medicines. One person may remove a medicine quickly, while another may process it more slowly.
This can affect how well the medicine works and the chance of certain side effects.
Can a DNA Test Help?
Potentially, yes—for some people and some medicines.
Most people carry genetic differences in drug-related genes, although not every difference will affect treatment. These differences may influence how a person processes or responds to certain medicines.
This field is called pharmacogenomics.
A pharmacogenomic test may provide healthcare professionals with additional information about whether a medicine may be less effective, cause certain side effects, or require different dosing or monitoring.
However, it cannot prevent every medicine-related admission. Missed doses, medication errors, overdose and worsening disease may still occur.
Pharmacogenomics is therefore an additional tool—not a replacement for doctors, pharmacists or regular health monitoring.
The Bigger Lesson
You do not need to fear medicine, but you should understand it.
Ask what each medicine is for, how it should be taken, and how you will know whether it is working.
If your condition remains uncontrolled or you repeatedly experience side effects, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for a medicine review.
The right treatment is not only about treating the right illness. It is also about finding a medicine that is suitable for the individual person.
Reference
Karuppannan M, Nee TK, Ali SM, Thong WK, Boardman H. The prevalence of adverse drug event-related admissions at a local hospital in Malaysia. Archives of Pharmacy Practice. 2013;4(4):160–167. doi:10.4103/2045-080X.123224.
This study involved two medical wards in one Malaysian government hospital. Its results should not be treated as representing all emergency visits or hospital admissions in Malaysia.
