When you are prescribed drugs by a doctor or other medical professional, you trust that the medication is safe and going to help you. Your doctor and medical staff should know your full health history, so you believe you can count on them to prescribe you drugs that will not harm you.
You may therefore be surprised and scared if your prescribed drugs cause you harm or make you sick. You may also feel confused, since you assumed that drug was going to help you.
Distinguishing an adverse reaction from common side effects
Almost all drugs have side effects, which can range from relatively minor ones to major ones that can be harmful. How do you know if you are experiencing common side effects or an adverse reaction?
Your doctor should tell you about any typical side effects of the prescribed drug. Read the label carefully to confirm what side effects you may experience.
An adverse reaction is a dangerous or harmful reaction to a prescribed drug taken at the correct dosage. You should always take only the prescribed dose of any drugs and read instructions carefully so the drug is not taken with other drugs that it should not be.
You could have an adverse reaction from a drug immediately, but symptoms can take up to 2 weeks to appear in some cases.
Mild, severe and life-threatening symptoms
Your symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Mild symptoms usually appear on your skin, through redness, a rash or itchiness. More serious symptoms include vision problems or peeling skin.
In a worse case scenario, you could have trouble breathing, become dizzy, or develop anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. You should call 911 immediately.
No matter what symptoms you develop, you should contact your doctor for treatment and to try to find out what is happening.
If you are taking the correct dosage of your prescribed drug and not mixing it with any other drugs, but still experiencing an adverse reaction, there may be something more going on.
Why would I experience an adverse reaction?
Your doctor may have incorrectly prescribed you a drug that you should not be taking. It could be a drug used to treat a different condition than the one you have or a drug that you are allergic to. You could have been given incorrect dosage instructions.
The drug manufacturer or pharmaceutical company may also have produced a defective drug.
The consequences of an adverse reaction are significant
All these things are forms of medical negligence and having an adverse reaction to a drug can majorly impact your life. You could experience severe medical complications that effect all areas of your life, including your work and personal life.
Treating your medical issues caused by an adverse reaction to a drug can result in huge medical bills that you cannot afford to pay. This is in addition to the untold amounts of pain and suffering you may experience.
Many Texas residents like you take prescription drugs every day and count on them to keep them healthy. If you have an adverse reaction from a defective drug, you could receive compensation for your damages. Talking with an attorney familiar with these types of matters can help you learn about your options.
