We’ve all been ill or needed a prescription drug before, but did you know that almost half of Americans are using prescription drugs? That’s a lot of medication and a lot of people that aren’t in top shape.
With so many prescriptions to fill, it’s not unreasonable to think that errors may occur. Here are 3 things to look out for and important reasons to check for a prescription error next time you visit the pharmacy.
1. The Right Medicine
When you visit the doctor with a problem, they will give you something to fix that specific problem. That means when you get your prescription filled you need that specific item that has been prescribed to you.
If you have the wrong medication, not only will it not help the problem but it could cause serious side effects or irreparable damage. You may have an allergy to the prescription drug you have been given or it may not mix well with other medication you are taking.
2. The Right Dose
Similarly, even if you have been given the correct prescription drugs, the dosage may not be what you were expecting. The doctor should let you know what they are prescribing, how to take it, and how much to take, so you should have an idea of the dosage.
Taking too little may result in the medicine being ineffective. Taking too much could cause side effects and make you more ill than you already are. It can be as dangerous as taking the wrong prescription drugs.
3. The Right Administration
A common mistake may be to confuse eye drops with ear drops or chewable tablets with non-chewable. Make sure you’ve got the correct medication and you are administering it in the correct way. Otherwise, it could be ineffective, or harmful.
Pharmacy Attorney
You may be asking what should I do about a prescription error? Remember to remain calm as medications can have long and complicated names and there not be an error at all but a like-for-like replacement because of stock issues.
But you should always return to the pharmacy if you’re unsure and ask them to double-check before taking any of the drugs you have been mistakenly given.
Remember to remain calm as medications can have long and complicated names and there not be an error at all but a like-for-like replacement because of stock issues. Ensure you ask the pharmacy if you’re unsure rather than make an accusation.
If you have been victim to a prescription error and it has had an adverse effect on your health, there is help. A pharmacy attorney can advise you about how to deal with an error with a prescription.
Prescription Error
The most important thing is to make sure you are checking any drug you take in case of a prescription error and never to take or use any drugs you think you’ve been wrongly prescribed.
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