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Medication errors are more common among seriously ill patients than with those with minor conditions.
For about 100 years, scientists thought that peptic ulcers were caused by stress, spicy food, and alcohol. Later, researchers added stomach acid to the list of causes and began treating ulcers with antacids. Now it is known that peptic ulcers are predominantly caused by Helicobacter pylori, a spiral-shaped bacterium that normally exist in the stomach.
Excessive alcohol use costs the country approximately $235 billion every year.
Aspirin is the most widely used drug in the world. It has even been recognized as such by the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 2006, a generic antinausea drug named ondansetron was approved. It is used to stop nausea and vomiting associated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.