Top Most Dangerous Drugs

Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in the United

States. In fact, more Americans die of drug overdoses than in car accidents
each year. In light of these staggering statistics, 24/7 Wall St. recently
conducted a new study that reviewed and categorized 25 of the most
dangerous drugs and drug mixtures. Researchers took into account side
effects and death rates tracked by the federal government, as well as potential
risk of drug combinations measured by medical information organizations and
web sources such as MedScape, WebMD, and the American Medical
Association.
1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Common names for Acetaminophen include Tylenol, Mapap, and Feverall.

This drug is regularly used for pain relief and is considered to be the most
dangerous on this list due its potential to cause liver damage and toxicity.
Acetaminophen is the nation’s leading cause of acute liver failure, according
to data from an ongoing study funded by the National Institutes for
Health. Analysis of national mortality files shows about 450 deaths occur each
year from acetaminophen-associated overdoses; 100 of these are
unintentional. Analysis of national databases also show that Acetaminophen-
related overdoses account for about 50,000 emergency room visits and
25,000 hospitalizations yearly.

2. Alcohol

Alcohol includes all types of beer, wine, and malt liquor. Alcohol ranks second
on this list due to the extensive health problems and injuries associated with
use. An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually. In
addition to causing health issues such as cancer, liver damage, hypertension,
heart disease, and fetal damage, alcohol abuse increases the risk of
injuries, suicide, violence, and motor accidents. Due to these factors,
excessive alcohol consumption is the third-leading cause of death in the
United States.
3. Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, sometimes called “benzos,” are anti-anxiety medications

that include Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. Benzodiazepine drugs rank high on
this list due to the high prescription rate and increased risk of deadly
respiratory depression that occurs when taking the medications. The risk of
experiencing negative side effects is significantly heightened when combined
with other drugs, particularly barbiturates, opioids, and alcohol. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), benzos were involved
in 31% of all overdose deaths during the year 2017.

4. Anticoagulants

Common anticoagulants include Warfarin, Xarelto, and Heparin. These

medicines are used to prevent blood clots in patients that are deemed at-risk
for clotting. Anticoagulants rank fourth on this list due to the serious health
conditions that can result from use, such as strokes, transient ischemic
attacks (TIAs), heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary
embolism. When combined with Aspirin and other blood-thinning drugs,
anticoagulants can also cause fatal internal and/or external bleeding.

5. Antidepressants

Common antidepressants include Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Zoloft.

Antidepressant drugs are commonly used to treat major depression and mood
disorders, but are also occasionally prescribed for attention deficient
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),
and anxiety disorders. These drugs are high on this list due to the adverse
health effects long-term use can have on consumers. Those taking
antidepressants have a 33% higher risk of dying prematurely than people who
are not taking the drugs. Additionally, antidepressant users are 14% more
likely to have an adverse cardiovascular event, such as a stroke or heart
attack.