How to Avoid Being a Victim to Medication Errors

Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Prescription medications can treat a wide range of health conditions and help people live longer lives. However, if medications are prescribed or administered incorrectly, it can lead to serious side effects. That is why it is important to be very involved in your care. Here are some different ways to avoid being a victim to medication errors.

Educate Yourself About Side Effects and Interactions

You should not rely on your doctor to recognize potential issues with your medications. Take the time to learn about the possible side effects of your medications and interactions. For instance, grapefruit can negatively affect the way certain medications work.

Maintain an Updated List of Your Medications

If you take medications on a daily basis, it is important to keep an updated list of them to give to your doctors and pharmacist. This way, you will not have to worry about forgetting medication names or dosages. Remember to include the full name of your medications, dosage and how long you have been taking them.

Ask the Right Questions

There is no such thing as asking too many questions. The more questions you ask about your medications, the less likely mistakes will happen. For example, you may want to find out what you should do if you miss a dose or the steps you should take if you took medication with food that may cause a bad reaction.

Discuss Supplements and Over-the-Counter Medications

When your doctor asks you about the medications you currently take, you have to include any supplements and over-the-counter medications. Just because you get them without a prescription, does not mean that they can’t interact with each other.

Go to the Same Pharmacy

If it is feasible, use the same pharmacy for all of your medications. This way, your pharmacist will have an easier time keeping track of possible drug interactions.

Follow Up on Dosage

If you are unsure about dosage, you should definitely contact your doctor immediately. For example, if your doctor told you to take a medication once a day and the pharmacist instructed you to take it twice a day, you will need some clarification. 

If you suffered an injury from a medication error, you may want to schedule a consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer, like one from Disparti Law Group, to talk about your case.