Prescription drugs marketed to patients should be safe. These medications undergo an extensive research and testing period known as a clinical trial, and the FDA approves pharmaceutical drugs prescribed to patients. Each state also regulates which drugs doctors can prescribe.
What happens when a drug is not safe?
What are dangerous drugs?
In Tennessee, the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services must consider several factors to determine whether a drug is safe. These factors include the potential for abuse, scientific knowledge about the drug, and public health risk, among others. Rushing this evaluation process for new drugs can lead to doctors inadvertently prescribing dangerous drugs. Some of these new drugs may present significant health risks to patients, even if the side effects are not known right away. If taking a dangerous drug causes negative health consequences, you should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.
Prescription drug interactions
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than half of overdose deaths in the US occur because of prescription drug misuse. This includes mixing prescription drugs. If your doctor prescribes you a drug that you should not combine with other medications you take, you can experience serious side effects. This negligence may give you grounds to pursue a personal injury or medical malpractice claim.
Prescription drugs are powerful substances that can cause immense harm when they are not formulated and prescribed properly. Government officials and doctors who take these side effects lightly should be held accountable.