According to an Associated Press articles dated April 15, 1998, bad reactions to prescription and over-the-counter medicines kill more than 100,000 Americans and seriously injure an additional 2.1 million every year.

Such reactions, which do not include prescribing errors or drug abuse, rank at least sixth amount U.S. causes of death - behind heart disease, cancer, lung disease, strokes and accidents, says a report based on an analysis of existing studies by Dr. Bruce H. Pomeranz, principal investigator and a neuroscience professor at the University of Toronto.

Printed information accompanying prescription and over-the-counter drug purchases should be read carefully by the consumer.