Prescription medications are safe when they are used for the intended purpose and the patient follows all instructions on the label. Every medication comes with risks, however. When a person is harmed by a medication that has been prescribed to them, this is known as an adverse drug event or ADE. The individual might have an allergic reaction or side effects. Adverse drug events also include medication errors or overmedication, and they are a preventable problem. What does the average person need to know about adverse drug events and their risk to a person’s well-being?
Increasing Adverse Drug Events
ADEs are increasing in number for several reasons. New medications are being developed and used, and new uses are being found for existing drugs. America’s population is aging, so more medications are being used to prevent and treat diseases. This increase in usage leads to a rise in ADEs. Currently, more than 1.5 million visits to the ER each year are the result of an adverse drug event. When a patient is harmed by a drug that has been prescribed to them, they should consider suing for medical malpractice to reduce the risk of others being harmed similarly. However, preventing ADEs starts at home.
Proving such negligence requires experts who can accurately demonstrate how a specific drug caused harm to the patient. Families are often reaching out to reliable urine drug testing services to gather clear, objective evidence of improper medication use or dangerous interactions. These tests can provide crucial support in building a strong medical malpractice case. Reliable lab results help establish a clear link between the prescribed medication and the adverse effects experienced.
Reducing the Risk of ADEs in Adults
Adults should keep a list of all medications they take and any supplements and vitamins purchased over the counter. They need to share this list with all medical providers they see to reduce the risk of an ADE from medication interactions.
Every person should follow the directions on the medicine label or the instructions provided by the doctor or pharmacist. Taking medications on time is essential, as taking them too close together can lead to an adverse event. Certain drugs must also be taken with food. Reminder apps are very helpful in keeping track of when and how medications should be taken.
Never take medications in the dark. Always turn a light on to ensure the right drug is selected, and the label can be easily read and followed. Anyone who wears glasses should put them on before taking medications to ensure they are taken from the correct bottles.
Individuals must ask questions if they don’t understand the directions on a medication bottle. The doctor or pharmacist will happily answer these questions to prevent an ADE. Patients also need to follow through with any tests recommended by their doctor to ensure the medication is working as intended without doing harm to the patient. However, ADEs also happen in hospitals and other clinical settings, so steps must be taken there to prevent these incidents.
Preventing Adverse Drug Events in Children
Parents must know the correct dose for their child before giving them medications. To reduce the risk of adverse events, parents should follow the directions exactly and use the dosing device provided.
Before giving children multiple medications, please read the labels to ensure they don’t contain the same ingredients. Ask the doctor or pharmacist if there is any confusion regarding these ingredients before giving the child the medicine. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Teach children that adults are the only ones who should handle medications. Always lock the safety cap before putting the medicine away and put the medicine in a safe location. Children are curious creatures, so it’s best to keep the medicine out of sight so it is out of mind.
Adverse drug events may happen even when people do all the right things. If the event was preventable, the individual must know who is responsible. A medical malpractice attorney can help determine who should be held liable and how best to seek compensation for the event. Contact an attorney today if you believe you have a case. They will meet with you to determine whether to proceed with a suit and how to do so.