Medical professionals should be vigilant about drug allergies

On Behalf of | Oct 24, 2019 | Medication Errors

Many people are allergic to specific drugs. Learning what those are often comes only after you have a reaction to one when you take it. From then on, medical professionals shouldn’t prescribe that drug to you again. When they do, you can suffer grave consequences.

While it is possible that the allergic reaction might be minor, it is just as likely that it will be serious or fatal. Typically, an allergic reaction will cause a rash or hives, both of which might be itchy. They can also cause a fever or anaphylaxis.

If you take a medication and start to feel your mouth tingle or feel like you can’t breathe, you should visit an emergency room because this is a sign that you are having the life-threatening reaction. Other signs of this condition include a drop in blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, dizziness or loss of consciousness.

One thing that sometimes confuses people is that they can’t necessarily count on the reaction happening right away. It can take hours or sometimes longer for an allergic reaction to occur, which can make it harder to determine the cause.

If you experience an allergic reaction, be sure to alert your doctors and the pharmacy you use. They can put this information in your record, so they can ensure they don’t prescribe it for you. It is a good idea to remind any medical professional about the allergy if they are going to write you a prescription for something.

You might opt to pursue a claim for compensation if you are prescribed a drug you are allergic to and have a reaction. This might be the case because the medication uses a name you aren’t familiar with.

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