Chances are you have taken medicine in the last six months. Over the counter medications are taken by four out of five adults while prescription drugs are used by almost half of American Adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Drug companies continue to produce new medications that, for the most part, weave seamlessly into the industry causing little stir.
However, there are potentially dangerous consequences for going blindly into using any medication, regardless of it being prescribed or over the counter. Fortunately, it is easier than ever to learn about medications before we take, or continue to take them.
Speaking with your doctor before taking any over the counter medications, including pain relievers, allergy medicines, and even nutritional and vitamin supplements, is the first and best measure to take before introducing any medication into your body. This is especially important for people who have a history of kidney or heart disease, or who take blood thinning medications.
Many supplements and over the counter drugs can react badly with existing prescription drugs or have the dangerous effect of making important prescription medications less effective than they should be. Even taking too much of a seemingly harmless medication or supplement can pose a serious threat, even to an otherwise healthy person.
If you have questions, speaking to a pharmacist can also be an easy and quick way to find out what you need to know when it comes to any medication or supplement. Most stores that carrie medications have in house pharmacists that can be helpful, and if that is not the case, local pharmacists in your community are more than happy to address any questions or concerns that you may have when it comes to drug safety and drug interactions.
It is always a good idea to check the safety of a drug or medication that you are about to take, or may already be taking. Many times certain medications are deemed harmful, even after years of extended production and use. Checking with the Drug Law Journal website is the most effective way to seek continued up to date information on drugs that are considered harmful or ineffective.
This site makes it easy to find out current information on your medication and up to date breaking information on drug recalls. The Drug Law Journal also contains studies and articles on various topics relating to medications that can be useful when determining what you may need to address with your doctor or pharmacist.
It is worth remembering that you are your best advocate when it comes to your health. Keeping up to date on prescription drugs and over the counter medication safety may seem to be something that you hope to delegate solely to your physician, but it is wise to take an active role in understanding what you are taking into your body.
Tracy Everhart
Tracy Everhart is the Editor for Drug Law Journal. A highly-trained and certified medical professional, Tracy is also an accomplished medical writer. After spending years on the front lines of the medical profession, Tracy now devotes her expertise and skills to researching and reporting on new drugs and devices that enter the market, as well as their side-effects and the real-life stories involved. Prior to joining Drug Law Journal, Tracy wrote for benchmark online healthcare resources focused on families and, in particular, women’s health issues. Tracy holds post-graduate degrees from both the American College of Healthcare Sciences and the Yale School of Nursing. She is also a graduate of both Hampshire College, where she studied microbiology and the University of South Carolina school of nursing.