Jacksonville Misprescribing Drugs Attorneys

If you are a consumer of any media it will not surprise you that Americans are taking a lot of prescription drugs and the pharmaceutical companies are only too happy to supply them. Magazines and television show happy people who have found peace and contentment with the help of their medication. The U.S. and New Zealand are the only two countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising and it works! Patients go to their doctor and frequently ask for the drug they've seen advertised because they believe they have that disease.

Public Citizen estimated in 2010 that an estimated 21 percent of people over the age of 65 were taking at least one prescription drug that they didn't need or was doing more harm than good. In 2003, an estimated 3.4 billion prescriptions were filled in the U.S., with about the twice as many prescriptions going to people over the age of 65. Often Medicare pays for the drugs for seniors, accounting for 41 percent of prescription medication costs.

Medication errors injure at least 1.5 million Americans every year and cost the nation $3.5 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine.

While drugs can be necessary to improve a condition or save a life, every drug has a side effect! Combining drugs doubles or triples the risk of drug interactions especially if they are in the same therapeutic category. Often it is the patient who discovers this the hard way with a drug reaction that can result in injury or death.

Young adults or children can be injured by drugs more easily than adults because of their body size and metabolism.

A drug may be misprescribed when it is given to mask the side effect of the first prescription medication. Conditions treated by a second drug may include depression, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and constipation among others. Instead of more medication, a change in lifestyle can be a better alternative to treat the original condition. Just adding exercise, drinking more water, getting quality sleep, curtailing alcohol consumption, coffee, sweets and junk food can bring about profound changes in health.

Then there are the billions of dollars wasted due to misprescribing that lead to follow-up doctors office visits or emergency room visits. Doctors are too quick to write a prescription and less likely to suggest common sense solutions. Of course, patients sometimes share in the "pill for every ill" mentality largely because of aggressive advertising.

If you or a loved one have been misprescribed a drug which led to an injury, you may be able to be compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Jacksonville medical malpractice lawyers at Farah & Farah have an open door policy to discuss your circumstances and offer your some direction.