Medication prescription profile and hospital admission related to medication administration errors in England and Wales: an ecological study.

Admission rates due to medication administration errors increased markedly in the past decade. This increase was correlated with an increase in the prescription rate of several therapeutic classes. Patients taking non-opioid analgesics, antipyretics and antirheumatics, psychiatric medications, antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic and antiparkinsonism drugs should have their recommended (and administered) doses closely monitored. They should be followed up on a regular basis to ensure that they are taking their medications as prescribed.