Medicine is supposed to make us better. Pain relievers for pain, antibiotics for infections, vitamins to prevent us from getting sick, an occassional TUMS when we’ve overindulged.
From time to time, we all have to rely on some type of drug to help us heal. But what happens when mistakes are made? Could we die? Possibly. According to the Institute of Medicine, more than 1.5 million potentially dangerous drug mistakes happen every year.
To help prevent inury or death from mishaps, follow these guidelines:
1) Always check the medication inside of the bottle to make sure that it is the correct. Many drugs have similar names or look like other drugs. Double check your pills by using a website like this one http://www.webmd.com/pill-identification/default.htm.
2)READ and FOLLOW the instructions on the label. “Take at the same time every day.”, “Avoid alcohol”, “Eat with food”, “Do not crush or chew”, all of these instructions have a purpose. Whether it is to prevent horrific and painful side effects or to ensure the effectiveness of the drug, it is important.
3)Keep a record of all the medications you take. This includes vitamins and over- the -counter drugs. If you have a smartphone, keep a record on it, so you will be able to provide your doctor with the information.
4) Did you know that a bathroom’s moisture can cause a drug to deteriorate? Store drugs in a large plastic box away from the reach of children instead of a bathroom medicine cabinet.
If you or a loved one has been sickened by a pharmaceutical mistake in Roanoke, Bedford, Salem, Lynchburg, Christiansburg, Wise, Pulaski, Dublin, Rocky Mount, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Waynesboro, Richmond, Abingdon, Charlottesville, VA or West Virginia call The Thomson Law Firm today for a free case evaluation (877) 471-3353.
