Many patients take several medications at the same time, potentially to manage only condition or to treat multiple health issues. These drugs may include prescriptions from different doctors, or they may simply be over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
However, certain combinations of drugs can cause serious harm if taken together. Fortunately, healthcare providers have several opportunities to identify dangerous interactions before the patient takes the medication. But they don’t always take the proper steps. When they fail to assess a medications suitability, an injured patient may have grounds for a medication error claim. Contact a medication error lawyer in Las Cruces today.
Why Are Drug Interactions Dangerous?
One medication can change how another drug works inside the body. The combination may make a medication less effective. Conversely, it may increase its strength or produce a harmful reaction that neither drug would cause on its own.
Depending on the medications involved, a dangerous interaction may cause:
- Internal bleeding
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- A sudden increase or decrease in blood pressure
- Excessive sedation
- Difficulty breathing
- Liver or kidney damage
- Seizures
- Serotonin syndrome
- Loss of consciousness
- Death
Importantly, the symptoms do not always appear right after taking contraindicated medicines. A reaction may develop over time or even resemble the patient’s existing condition. Reach out to our Las Cruces medical malpractice attorney if you or a loved one has been affected by a medication error.
Medications Most at Risk for Dangerous Interactions
Almost any medicine can react with another drug, but certain drug types carry a higher risk for serious complications.
Common high-risk drug categories include:
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants) can cause severe bleeding if taken with certain painkillers or antibiotics.
- Opioid painkillers can dangerously slow breathing when combined with sleep aids or anxiety drugs
- Antidepressants can trigger a life-threatening reaction called serotonin syndrome when mixed with similar medications.
- Heart and blood pressure drugs can cause sudden drops in blood pressure or irregular heartbeats when combined with other drugs
- Diabetes medications may cause dangerously low blood sugar if paired with conflicting drugs.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers and supplements can raise the risk of stomach bleeding
Doctors and pharmacists must review a patient’s full list of medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, to prevent these harmful interactions.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Missed Drug Interaction?
Legal responsibility for a missed drug interaction depends on where the mistake happened. A prescribing doctor may be at fault for ordering a drug without checking known risks. Alternatively, a pharmacist could be responsible for providing a dangerous drug combination without a clear warning. Additionally, a hospital or clinic may share liability for the incident.
To prove a legal claim, you generally must show that:
- The provider knew or should have known about a dangerous drug interaction
- A reasonably careful medical professional would have taken different steps
- The combination of medications caused your injury
- Your suffered physical and financial harm
If you or a family member suffered a severe reaction because healthcare providers missed a dangerous drug interaction, Coates & Johnson can review your medical and pharmacy records to determine who is at fault. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights and legal options.