Why are so many people dying from prescription drugs?

Why are so many people dying from prescription drugs?

While many of the people who die from these prescription medications are prescribed them, other people die from using medications that have been prescribed to other people. While taking these medications, in some cases, makes sense, many people are over-prescribed these medications or use them inappropriately.

Is it dangerous to take medicine without a prescription?

And taking drugs not prescribed for you is very dangerous. You have no idea what effects a drug may have on you. Not only can taking prescription medications make you very sick, it can land you in jail.

What happens when you discontinue a prescription drug?

Discontinuing a medication abruptly can often be associated with unpleasant side effects and worsening of symptoms based on your drug treatment, its chemistry profile, and how your drug is broken down (metabolized) and excreted from your body. Ideally, talk to your doctor about how, when (and if) to stop a drug when it is first prescribed.

What happens if you use someone else’s prescription drug?

Also, if you have an unexpected serious reaction, no one will really know what you took, which can delay treatment. Using someone else’s prescription drug can lead to overdose and increase your risk of prescription drug use disorder. There are so many unknowns that can put your health at risk, including:

While many of the people who die from these prescription medications are prescribed them, other people die from using medications that have been prescribed to other people. While taking these medications, in some cases, makes sense, many people are over-prescribed these medications or use them inappropriately.

Is it OK to take medications past their expiration dates?

It may be fine to take an allergy medication that’s a [&month&] past its [&expiration&] [&date&]. But there is some risk in taking a heart rhythm medication that, if ineffective, could lead to an unstable and dangerous heart problem.

What happens when you stop taking a medication?

When you abruptly stop taking a prescription medication without telling your doctor it’s called medication non-adherence, and it is estimated to result in increased hospitalizations and premature deaths, alongside a whopping healthcare bill for America that totals anywhere between $100 billion and $289 billion a year, according to an NPR report.

Is it dangerous for a doctor to prescribe drugs?

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Doctors are supposed to heal, not harm their patients. But sometimes doctors inadvertently cause harm by prescribing drugs, which can have dangerous side effects, be addictive, or even be lethal.