Prescription drugs can vastly improve the quality of life of individuals dealing with illness, but there are risks that should be taken into consideration before a person begins taking any medication.
Information about drugs that are currently available to patients can be found at the MedWatch website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Website visitors can simply enter the name of a drug into the search bar to discover whether there have been any warnings or reports related to the drug. Searching a prescription drug also provides information about noted drug interactions that could result in a serious adverse reaction in a patient.
Although the FDA reports that 97% of the drugs approved since the mid-1990s are safe and still available to patients, approximately 3% of the drugs that were approved during this time period had the potential to cause harm to patients.
Patients are reminded to stay proactive about their medical care. Instead of assuming prescription drugs are as safe and effective as television and magazine ads make them appear to be, people should do research to discover whether there are any alerts or reports related to these drugs. Individuals are advised to discuss risks with their doctor prior to putting pressure on a medical professional to prescribe a certain medication.
Anyone who has taken a drug and suffered an adverse reaction that has significantly impacted their quality of life should contact an attorney in Buffalo. Lawyers in Buffalo, NY can discuss legal options with a person who has been negatively affected by a prescription drug. Although patients may believe that they do not need to take legal action, a lawyer in Buffalo can explain that compensation obtained as a result of a lawsuit can be used to cover medical expenses and loss of wages that occur when a patient experiences illness or injury because of a prescription drug.
