April 18th, 2011
Posted in At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we know pain killers like Vicodin and Oxycontin can be addictive which can often lead to an accidental overdose and recent research is beginning to link the increase of these accidental deaths to higher increases in prescription dosages. Now a published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association may back up that claim. A study shows that between 1999 and 2007 the rate of unintentional overdose increased by a whopping 124% in the U.S. and it is strongly believed it is because of stronger prescriptions and greater dosages.
1.5 million people every year are seriously injured because of prescription errors, including right here in Kansas City.
The study conducted by researchers from the Veteran Affairs Department looked at data on 750 accidental opioid overdose deaths that occurred from 2004 to 2008 as well as a random sample of almost 155,000 patients who received opioids to treat pain in 2004 or 2005. The study shows that patients who received a higher maximum daily dose (100 milligrams/day or more) were more likely to overdose than those who received a lower maximum daily dose (between 1 and 20 mg/day).
Our experienced Kansas City Medical Malpractice Lawyers want you to be safe from medication errors that can cause serious injury if not death. If you take a prescription medication, always take it according to the directions given to you by your doctor of pharmacist. Never increase your dosage without first consulting your doctor. These medications are often dosed according to many factors such as body weight, diet and other medical factors. If you feel you are taking a drug and are having side effects because the dosage is too high, contact your doctor immediately. This could be because of a serious and possibly fatal reaction to the medication.
If you or someone you love has suffered as serious injury because of Medical Malpractice in Kansas or Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including lost wages, medical bills and even legal fees. Call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys James Roswold and Heather Lottman. With over 15 years of experience in Medical Malpractice cases including Prescription Errors and Accidents, we may be able to help you and your family get through this difficult time.
Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys to set up a free consultation to discuss your personal injury claim. You can get started today by downloading our free book, “The Ultimate Guide to Medical Malpractice in Kansas and Missouri“. We want you to know your rights.
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