One teen who was diagnosed with cancer was taking as many as 20 medications per day as his condition got worse. As his mother would soon learn, the complexities of medicine management make it easy to see why many Americans don’t take their medication correctly. However, taking the wrong medication or missing a dose can lead to health complications or even death.
Fortunately, there are some tips that may make it easier to take medication correctly. First, it is important to know that an individual is taking the right medication. While there are many safeguards intended to make sure that patients get what they are supposed to be taking, mistakes do happen whether a prescription is written by hand or printed by a computer. Patients are urged to make sure that they have the correct medication and in the correct form before they pay for it.
Those who are taking multiple medications should be especially careful as drug reactions could cause adverse health events. While they may be minor in some cases, they may be deadly in others. Those over the age of 50 have a high risk of negative consequences from a drug interaction. To reduce the risk of an interaction, patients should carry a complete list of their medications with them to a medical appointment.
Individuals who are given an incorrect medication or otherwise suffer from medication mistakes may wish to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. If successful, an injured patient may receive compensation for medical bills as well as lost wages and lost future earnings. An attorney may be able to review the case to determine whether to attempt to settle the case outside of court.