Most Adverse Event Reports

Reading the Most Adverse Event Reports

This table ranks 50 drugs by total reports, sourced from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The current leader is adalimumab at 695,825, followed by etanercept and aspirin. Each row links to a full drug profile so readers can move from headline number to the underlying FDA data, labeling, FAERS reports, recalls, pricing, and shortage status, that explains why a particular drug sits where it does.

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports of adverse drug reactions from healthcare professionals, patients, and manufacturers. A high number of reports does not necessarily mean a drug is dangerous, widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports. Common over-the-counter medications like aspirin and acetaminophen often appear near the top due to massive usage volumes. Report counts should be interpreted relative to the number of patients taking the drug.

Rankings are diagnostic, not prescriptive. Absolute numbers are shaped by exposure volume, reporting practices, and data-collection methodology, so a drug near the top is not automatically "worse" than a drug near the bottom, it may simply be older, more widely prescribed, or manufactured by firms with more visible reporting. Context from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) updates continuously, which means the relative order here can change from one refresh to the next. Rankings on this page are for educational research only and must not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a licensed clinician.