When doctors prescribe medications, they don’t just consider the medication itself that their patients will take. They also must consider the dosages that will be both safe for them and effective at treating their illnesses or relieving their symptoms.
However, patients don’t always take the right dosages. Sometimes, they forget to take a dose, which can make their medications less effective. In other cases, patients may accidentally take too much of a medication. This often happens when patients forget they’ve already taken a dosage or when they accidentally swallow an extra pill.
Medication overdoses can be dangerous and can cause serious side effects. You can reduce your risks of experience one by taking the following steps:
- Use a pill organizer.
If you take a daily medication, a seven-day pill organizer can help you keep track of your doses. These organizers make it easy to determine if you’ve taken your medication each day. - Take your medications at the same time every day.
Another way to reduce the risk of accidental overdose is to always take your medication at the same time. Pair it with another daily ritual like brushing your teeth to get into a consistent habit. - Ask your doctor about once-per-day dosages.
Accidental overdoses are common when patients need to take multiple doses of the same medication every day. If your medication is available in extended-release form, you may only need to take it that version once, which can be easier to keep track of.
At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, we know all too well how medications have the power to both heal and harm. If you or someone you love is injured by a dangerous or defective drug, contact our drug injury lawyers for a free consultation.