The Hidden Dangers of Prescription Drugs

Society has benefited greatly by the development of pharmaceutical medications. They have helped to relieve or eliminate symptoms associated with many medical conditions. They have made life better or last longer for many people suffering from disease or illness.

However, there are some dangers associated with the use of pharmaceuticals. Did you know that the number of people in the US killed by pharmaceutical drugs is double the number who die annually in car wrecks!! Another frightening statistic is that around a million people every year are severely injured by their prescribed medications taken at home!!

The newspapers often highlight stories relating to the danger of prescription drug abuse and addictions especially related to young adults. Celebrities are often in the spotlight as a result of addictions or deaths brought about as a result of the side effects or an overdose of prescription drugs. However it is not just celebrities that are at risk. There are dangers faced by all of us who take pharmaceuticals!

When you are taking medications you need to be aware of these dangers! In this age the majority of the population perhaps do not treat their medications with the respect that they deserve.

You need to be careful when taking you medications or any combinations of them. In fact according to the FDA 70% of patients are not told of possible harmful drug combinations by their doctors. In many cases patients don't ask their doctors about the drugs they are prescribed or ignore the prescription information and often use them inappropriately.

Other issues occur when patients are infirm or too sick to be aware of their medications. They are at the mercy of their caregiver. This may be a professional caregiver or it may be a family member. The danger faced by family caregivers is that they may not have been given the full instructions relating to the medications or may not fully understand the instructions.

Seniors often have problems with their prescription drugs as many suffer from memory impairment or have eyesight difficulties. They often have trouble remembering to take their medications, remembering which ones they have already taken, or have problems reading the labels on their prescription labels.

Here are some suggestions regarding pharmaceutical medications:

• Always treat your pharmaceutical drugs with respect
• Only take pharmaceutical drugs if they are prescribed for you
• Throw away all old or unused pharmaceuticals
• Do not share pharmaceutical drugs with others
• Check with your physician or pharmacist about drug side-effects and interactions
• Make sure you clearly understand the labeled instructions of your medications
• If you are a caregiver identify your patient's prescription instructions and dosage
• If you are a senior find a systems that works for you to clearly identify your medications and ensure the correct dosage

Remember that modern day pharmaceuticals can greatly benefit us all. But also be aware that they can be hazardous to our health if used incorrectly. The rule of thumb is that if you are in doubt about any information relating to your medications always ask your physician or your pharmacist. It is their job to help you gain information relating to all your prescribed medications.