Many residents of San Antonio take prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs. The American Academy of Family Physicians says that four out of five U.S. adults do so every week. Not only that, but one-third of adults also take five or more medications at the same time. One can see how this opens the way for adverse drug events, which can end in injury or even death. By following five tips, however, patients may minimize the risk for errors.
It all starts with correctly using medication. If a pill is non-chewable, one must follow these directions. To take the right dosage, one should use a measuring spoon or syringe rather than ordinary silverware. The next two tips are closely related to this: knowing one’s dosage and being honest about one’s weight and height. Dosage levels differ between adults and children as well as with people’s physical attributes.
Patients should keep an accurate, updated list of all the medications they take. They can present such information to doctors so that they’re not prescribed anything that might cause a harmful interaction. Using the same pharmacy for prescriptions may also be wise. Lastly, patients should schedule follow-up appointments. Some adverse effects, such as liver damage, can only be identified by lab testing.
The victim of an adverse drug effect might be able to pursue a medical malpractice case, but they will want to know what’s involved in such a step. They must prove several things, such as the doctor’s failure to adhere to a generally accepted standard of medical care. Furthermore, a victim must show that they followed all the doctor’s instructions. Before getting started, the victim may want to see a lawyer. Legal counsel could assist with all negotiations.
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