How to tell if you're taking the wrong medication

If you've been prescribed the wrong medication you could be under the false assumption that you're simply experiencing side effects.

Taking the wrong medication can be dangerous or even deadly. Even if the medication is prescribed for you there could be allergy risks or negative interaction with other medications that cause severe symptoms. And there’s always the chance, ever so slight, that the physician has prescribed the wrong medication or that the pharmacist has filled it wrong.

Since many medications cause mild to moderate side effects it’s difficult to know if you are simply suffering through these or if you are actually taking a medication that can do you harm. There are some general things to look for when taking a new medication. Breaking out in hives is a red flag when taking new medications. This could signal an incompatibility with another medicine or could point to an allergic reaction.

Excessive vomiting is another symptom that warrants caution. Vomiting is one way the body has of rejecting poisons. Many medicines, like antibiotics, can cause vomiting upon first beginning the treatment. If this is one of the known side effects of the drug monitor yourself or the person taking the treatment. If the vomiting becomes severe, extremely frequent or lasts more than 24 hours contact a physician to find out if he recommends the continuance of the medication.

Diarrhea is also a way that the body rejects foreign or poisonous substances. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration among other ailments. As with vomiting, many medications cause diarrhea but it shouldn’t last longer than 24 hours. If there is burning with the diarrhea contact the physician. He may recommend that you simply take a anti-diarrheal, over-the-counter medication to relieve the symptoms. Do not take these types of non-prescription drugs without contacting the physician since some prescription and non-prescription medicines are incompatible.

Dizziness is a symptom that is suffered by many when starting a new medication. Lightheadedness, if a natural side effect of the drug, should be mild to moderate and non constant. The symptom should disappear within 36 hours but may last longer. If dizziness lasts longer than 36 hours the occurrences should be fewer and further between. Dizziness accompanied by white dots or flashes of light should be reported immediately.

Other danger signs are severe depression, smaller or larger than usual pupils, fluctuation in breathing patterns, racing of heart, severe headaches, blisters, bleeding, burning, cramping of the stomach region and pain on the lower sides of the back.

Some medications cause a person to be sick nearly the entire time they take it. Your physician should warn you of this when starting the medication. Medicines now come with an information sheet that explains certain side effects and how likely you are to experience these effects. Although the side effects can run the gamut from dizziness to vomiting to nervousness don’t just assume that since you are experiencing some of these effects that it’s normal. Side effects from medications generally pass within a day or two. Severe side effects that are normally related to the particular drug should be reported if they have not lessened or disappeared within two days. Be sure that you are following the recommended dosage and are not combining the medication with alcohol.