Clearwater Medication Error
People do not generally think that doctors will make mistakes. When they have a medical problem, they think that all they have to do is go to the doctor, who will fix the problem without any hassles. Many times, this is true. The doctor gives some medication that solves the medical ailment.
Other times, however, this is not always what happens. One of the things that can happen is that a doctor can provide the wrong prescription to a patient.
Fortunately, for the most part doctors do perform their duties well. There are times, though, when the wrong drugs are prescribed. If you feel that you have been prescribed the incorrect drug, contact the Clearwater medical malpractice lawyer of the Law Offices of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos, P.L.L.C. by calling (727) 441-9030.
Impact of Incorrect Prescriptions
The effects of being prescribed the wrong drug can be very serious. An incorrect drug can worsen the medical problem ailing someone; a certain drug will make a medical ailment better, but another drug can make it worse.
Another danger is that a wrong drug can lead to side effects that would not otherwise have been a problem if the correct drug had been prescribed from the beginning. Worst of all, an incorrect prescription drug can lead to death.
Why Incorrect Prescriptions Occur
There are many reasons why doctors would prescribe the wrong medication. They may believe that the patient’s ailment is different from what it truly is. That is, they may misdiagnose the problem. Or, they may be getting money from drug companies to prescribe a certain drug. Or, the exact drug may not be available so the doctors prescribe a drug that comes close to the needed one.
Whatever the reasons for prescribing the wrong drug, the effects can be deadly. Doctors have a responsibility to ensure that patients get the drugs they need, the right drug, no matter what.
Drug Allergies
While many Americans rely on prescription drugs to manage their symptoms, many individuals also have drug allergies. Some of these allergies go undiagnosed until an individual takes a drug and has an adverse side effect. These side effects are usually serious problems that may even be life-threatening.
If you have an allergy to the drug you are taking, the consequences can be very harmful. Some of the most common side effects resulting from drug allergies are:
- Hives
- Itchy skin and/or eyes
- Rash
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, and/or face
- Wheezing
In some cases, you may suffer from anaphylaxis, which is the technical term for a more severe reaction. The symptoms can range from dizziness and confusion to nausea and heart palpitations. Should you experience any of the side effects listed above or a more serious reaction, seek medical care immediately, as you could be in danger.
Sometimes doctors overlook a patient’s known drug allergies or fail to test for them. If you have suffered from such an error, you may be entitled to compensation for negligence. It is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer at your side should you choose to sue.
Major Drug Recalls
Many small drug recalls take place each year, usually because of a compromised production run of a drug rather than problems associated with the medication in its intended form. But there are also a number of recalls that pertain to the totality of a drug because of excessive dangers. Some of the major drug recalls that have been enacted in fairly recent history were for the following medications:
- Dexatrim (Phenylpropanolamine)
- Vioxx (Rofecoxib)
- Zelnorm (Tegaserod)
- Accomplia (Rimonabant)
- Fen-phen (fenfluramine and phentermine)