Most Dangerous Drugs You Should Know About

Published: Oct 15, 2017 in Product Liability

Just because you obtained a drug through a prescription does not mean it is entirely safe. Some of the most addictive and potentially hazardous drugs are regularly prescribed by doctors. These medications need to be taken in certain amounts at specific times to offer the desired effect without harming you – and even then you may experience significant side effects. Unfortunately, a number of things can go wrong when it comes to potentially dangerous drugs. You can be harmed even though you obtained the drugs legally and through a doctor’s prescription. If you or a loved one are prescribed medications, you need to know which ones could be dangerous, and what could go wrong.

If you believe you were injured because of a doctor’s or pharmacist’s actions, do not hesitate to contact our Belleville dangerous drug lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC. We will carefully review your situation with the help of medical experts to determine if you were injured by a medical professional’s carelessness or recklessness in prescribing you some of the most dangerous drugs. If so, we will help you pursue the compensation you deserve under the law.

Call us today at (618) 767-6293, or contact us online for a free and confidential case consultation.

Dangerous Prescription Drugs You Should Know About

Almost every prescription drug can have adverse side effects or react badly with another medication or your medical regimen. However, certain prescription medications are more likely to be harmful than others, including:

Opioid painkillers. Opioid painkillers are generally strong and effective. A few commonly prescribed opioids are codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, Vicodin, Demerol, Percocet, fentanyl, and methadone. Opioids are strong. They not only relieve pain, but they can cause users to feel high. This is why they are also extremely addictive. If you are prescribed a high dose of an opioid for a prolonged period of time, you have a higher likelihood of becoming dependent while not actually improving your condition or reducing your pain. Additionally, mixing opioids with other types of medications can increase your risk of accidental overdose or deadly side effects.
Methotrexate. Methotrexate can be highly effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. However, it is a drug you need to be extremely careful with. You must take it exactly as prescribed to avoid significant and life-threatening side effects. For example, it is almost never prescribed as a daily dose. At most, you may need to take it twice a week. You must also avoid taking certain other medications or supplements while on it. While on Methotrexate, your kidneys and liver will need to be checked through blood tests every one to four months.
Coumadin, Warfarin, and other blood thinners. Blood thinners are an important class of drugs that have helped many people. However, they can be prescribed when they are not necessary, and you can be given too high of a dose. It is important to review whether or not you should continue taking blood thinners, whether you are on the best one for your situation, and whether you are on the proper dosage. These factors can all change over time. You also need to be careful to take blood thinners as instructed to prevent injury.
Accutane. If you have done everything possible to treat your acne and it will still not go away, your physician may prescribe Accutane. This medication is highly effective. However, it has potentially devastating side effects, including birth defects. It is absolutely essential that you do not become pregnant while on this drug.
Statins. This class of drugs is used to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your body and prevent heart attack or stroke. For a short period of time, statins are safe and effective. However, taking statins for a prolonged period of time increases your risk for serious side effects and adverse medical conditions such as diabetes. You should continuously check in with your cardiologist regarding whether or not to continue taking statins. This is another medication you must take correctly and avoid many other medications and supplements while taking.

Negligent Medical Professionals Turn Safe Drugs Into Dangers

The risk of injury that often comes from these drugs stems from inappropriate prescriptions or medication errors. If your physician is careless and continues to prescribe you unnecessary drugs, prescribes you too many medications, or prescribes you a drug that will interact poorly with one of your other medications, then that doctor’s carelessness is the cause of your injury. If a pharmacist failed to notice a dangerous drug interaction, gave you the incorrect medication, or gave you the incorrect dosage, the pharmacist’s negligence is the cause of your injury.

Were You Injured Because of a Prescription Drug?

If you were hurt because of a prescription drug or a doctor’s or pharmacist’s mistake, contact a product liability lawyer from The Cates Law Firm, LLC right away. It can be difficult to accept that a trusted medical professional or a prescription medication that was supposed to help you caused you harm. However, this is the situation all too often. By contacting our experienced attorneys today, we can help you discover what went wrong, who is liable, and then pursue the compensation you are entitled to under the law.