Pharmaceutical Liability Information Center

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• Pharmaceutical Liability - An Overview
• Building a Pharmaceutical Liability Case
• Protecting Yourself Against Risks
• Dietary Supplements and Herbal Remedies
• Medical Devices
• Frequently Asked Questions about Pharmaceutical Liability
• Pharmaceutical Liability Resource Links
• Pharmaceutical Liability Contact Form

Dan Dolan has secured substantial settlements and verdicts from physicians, pharmacists, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies for prescription drug errors. He is a former insurance defense lawyer whose insights enable him to maximize compensation of behalf of permanently injured clients. Call (305) 371-2692 to discuss your potential claim. We can come to you.

Protecting Yourself Against Risks

From a prescription drug to help control high blood pressure to over-the-counter pain relievers, many people take medications every day. In addition, herbal and nutritional supplements are a part of life for many people. Although these medicines can help you feel better and manage your symptoms, they have risks as well as benefits. Just because a drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not mean it is free from risks. The FDA approves a drug and considers it safe when the benefits outweigh the known risks. In fact, many risks are only discovered after a drug has been on the market for an extended period of time and a much larger number of patients than participated in the clinical trials have used the drug. There are steps you can take to minimize your risk of adverse reactions. If you have experienced adverse side effects as a result of taking a drug or herbal supplement, contact a pharmaceutical liability attorney at Dolan Law Firm in Miami to discuss whether you may be able to recover for your injuries.

Drugs can affect different people in different ways depending on a number of factors. While manufacturers may provide warnings about common side effects, you may not experience any of these symptoms. Conversely, it is possible that you experience severe but rare side effects. Some examples of risks from medicine use are the chance of a harmful interaction between the medication and a food, drink, dietary supplement or other medicine; the possibility that the drug will not work as expected; and the chance that the drug may cause additional problems. When deciding whether to take a certain prescription drug or other medication, it is important to obtain as much information about that drug as possible.

Communicate with your Doctor, Pharmacist or Other Health Care Provider

If your doctor recommends that you go on a certain drug, ask him or her questions about possible adverse reactions and reported side effects. It is also important to keep an updated list of all medicines (including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal supplements) that you take and share this list with you doctor or other health care professional. Many drugs can produce adverse reactions if taken in concert with certain other drugs or herbal supplements. You should also tell your doctor if you have any allergies or any other conditions that might affect your ability to take medications. For women, it is also important to let your doctor know if you are or may become pregnant or if you are nursing.

Be Informed about your Medications

It is important that you know what you are taking. You should know the brand name and name of the generic version of the drug. Always make sure you understand the directions for taking the medicine. If you are unclear about the instructions for use or dosage, ask your doctor or pharmacist for clarification. Some other things to remember are:

• How to store your medications
• If the medicine expires and when to stop taking it
• What to do if you miss a dose
• What the drugs are supposed to do
• The medicine's side effects and interaction warnings

It is especially important to be aware of potentially dangerous interactions. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are possible interactions and if you should avoid other medicines, foods, beverages or herbal supplements while taking the drug. It is also a good idea to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions so that it has a record of what you are taking.

Stay Informed

You can research drugs using the Internet. For example, the Food and Drug Administration Web site (www.fda.gov) has a wealth of information about various drugs. By doing a quick Internet search you can find out if there are lawsuits over the safety or efficacy of the drug, if there have been recalls or if there have been adverse events reported. Be sure to discuss the information you find with your doctor or other health care professional. You can also ask your doctor for written information about the drug that is provided by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

There are several steps you can take to make sure that you understand the benefits and the risks of any medication you are considering taking. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your concerns and if you experience any side effects. If you have been injured by a prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine or herbal supplement, talk to an experienced pharmaceutical liability attorney at Dolan Law Firm in Miami about your legal options.

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DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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