If you or a family member is diagnosed with a health condition, a large part of the treatment will likely be some form of medication. Whether the medication is a pill that you take every day or an intravenous infusion that you get once a week, it is important to know that what you are putting in your body is safe and effective. You should ask your doctor any questions that you might have and make sure that you clearly understand his or her answers.
To have a better idea of what you should look out for, it helps to understand what risks to avoid.
Effectiveness
When you take a medication, you have an expectation that it will help you in a certain way. However, some drugs that have entered the market have failed to do what they were supposed to do. This could be for several different reasons. For one, the problem could lie in the way the drug was manufactured and processed. There may not have been adequate testing, or someone in the facility may have made a mistake. Another common reason a drug might not work properly is how your body takes it in. Everyone reacts to things differently, so a medication that is a lifesaver for one person might not do much for you.
Side-Effects
A medication may do its job well, but it could bring on additional problems. Side effects must be acknowledged in advertisements and on the container, but there could be unforeseen consequences when you take a drug. For instance, many pain killers reduce inflammation by calming the immune system, but if their effects are too strong, they can stifle your immune system and expose you to infections. You should ask your doctor what the best course of action is to reap the benefits of a drug without putting yourself at risk.
Interactions
You may take a medication that works extremely well and comes with minimal side effects, but you must also consider other things that you put in your body. Many pharmaceuticals do not combine well with other medications, so it is important to ask your doctor how the components might interact. You also should consider what you’re eating and drinking when you take a medication, as well as any vitamins or supplements.
Mitigate Risks, Boost Benefits
Medications can solve many problems if they are created, vetted and used carefully. When a drug is properly administered, it can wipe out harmful infections, lower blood pressure, relieve pain, regulate psychological disorders and so on. Leaders in the industry such as Ralph Thurman have been working to ensure that medications are being used safely so that patients get as much out of them as possible.
The pharmaceutical industry is continuing to evolve as technology and research become more advanced. There is no telling what groundbreaking medications will be introduced in the future, and how many lives they may save. As new innovations develop, it’s important for a community to balance risks with benefits. The right foresight can ensure the best treatments for those who need them.
