How Do I Know if I am the Victim of a Medication Error in Tennessee?

It is scary to think that the doctors and medical professionals upon whom you rely to prescribe, fill, or administer medication may provide the wrong medication. This may be done without the knowledge of the people giving you the drugs, in the case of an error at the pharmaceutical company or compounding firm that manufactured or prepared the medication. The error could have occurred because a doctor wrote out the wrong prescription or the pharmacist filled it with the wrong dose or, in the worst case scenario, the improper medication. However it occurred, there are some things that should be done to make sure that you minimize the harm from a medication error. Here are some of the frequently asked questions:

How Will I Know if I am Taking the Wrong Medication?

Although there are adverse drug reactions that occur when you are taking the correct drug and dose, there are some symptoms for which you should watch:

Are you having difficulty breathing?
Have you experienced severe nausea and vomiting after taking the medication in question?
Are you feeling light-headed or confused?
Do you bruise easily when you did not before taking the medication?
Have you experienced bleeding that was hard to stop?
Did you have episodes of diarrhea or constipation after taking the drug?
Does your heart race after taking the medication?
Any reaction that is different from those that you have experienced when previously taking this medication is a reason to consult your physician immediately. If it is a new medication, your doctor or pharmacist should have discussed possible side-effects. If the symptoms that you are experiencing are different from those that you anticipated, you should contact a medical professional immediately.

What should I do if I suspect that I have been the victim of a medication error?

First, stop taking the medication if you even suspect that it is not the proper dose or is the incorrect medication. Regardless of whether you feel strange after taking a drug and you are not aware of any associated side-effects or the pill or liquid looks different from what you thought it should look like, do not continue to take the medication. You should contact your doctor as soon as possible to ask about the medication and discuss your situation. It also is imperative to get a complete medical assessment. If you or a loved one took an incorrect dose or the wrong medication, the harm can be extensive and immediate medical treatment may be necessary. You want to be careful about stopping medication that may be critical to your continued wellbeing and should visit an emergency room if you suspect the medication that you have is not the right one in this case. None of this should be used as a substitute for medical advice and is for informational purposes only.

Should I Research the Medication Myself?

Although it is never a good idea to rely on the Internet for medical treatment, this may be one of the times where it provides a resource for comparing the medication that you have in your possession to the drugs that you should have received. Some pharmacies place the description of the drug on the prescription container (for example, small oval blue pill) so you can compare that to the contents of the bottle with what it should look like.

Contact Greer Injury Lawyers Today to Learn More About Your Legal Options!

If you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of a taking a medication that is different from the dose or drug that was prescribed, the lawyers with the Tennessee law firm of Greer Injury Lawyers have the knowledge and experience to serve as your personal legal team. Medication errors are all too common, and the consequences are tragic. Our Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys are happy to meet with you to discuss your case, so call us toll free at (888) 470-9143 to schedule your free and confidential initial consultation. At Greer Injury Lawyers, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win. We look forward to providing you with superior legal representation.