Doctors are reportedly failing to properly inform patients of side effects for prescription drugs

We put our lives in the hands of doctors, and we expect to be provided with a health service designed to help and protect us.

As we know, however, this is not always the case.

Sometimes, prescription drugs are required to treat certain ailments, but are usually only recommended if the benefits outweigh the risks. Reportedly, there are alarming concerns surrounding doctors allegedly failing to warn patients about the potential side-effects of prescription drugs they are being given.

No excuse for failures to warn patients…

Whether by carelessness or lack of knowledge, failing to properly disclosure side-effects means patients may not be aware of what could happen to them when taking certain medications, and what they should do if something does happen. Certain patients are also more susceptible to harm when it comes to some side-effects, and this needs to be carefully assessed. Patients with underlying conditions, for example, should be informed of side-effects that may, when combined with their condition, result in problems.

The concerns are that this may not be the case, however.

Addiction is one of the hot topics at the moment

It isn’t just about the potential failures to warn patients of what might happen when taking medication; there is also an issue of what happens when patients stop taking the medication, and this is actually a very hot topic at the moment. Reports continue to come in that suggest addictions and withdrawal symptoms from ceased-medications are not being fully highlighted to patients.

In one example, a doctor prescribed a sedative to help a patient sleep and ease her chronic fatigue syndrome; but the drug caused her weight to plummet as a side-effect. When the patient informed her doctor that she was going to stop taking the drug, the doctor made no attempt to warn her about the fact she may suffer from withdrawal symptoms either before she started the course, or when she informed she would stop.

After ceasing the medication, the patient reportedly developed insomnia, depression and anxiety which she had not been previously warned of. To combat these symptoms, her doctor then recommended anti-depressants, but she reportedly declined his advice, and feels his alleged negligence has “ruined” her life.

The patient in this case sought help from another doctor who discussed side-effects with her and has reportedly helped her return to the woman she once was; before the whole drug fiasco. The 60-year-old speaks politely of the first doctor, saying “he’s not a bad doctor”, but she does believe that drug manufacturers and suppliers aren’t doing enough to let doctors and physicians know about possible side-effects, consequently leaving patients in the dark too.

Worrying allegations in the U.S.

There are reportedly greater concerns in the U.S. right now. This is relevant for us because the same drug companies who supply drugs and information to U.S. medical professionals are often supplying it to us here in the U.K.

Many doctors obtain their knowledge about drugs during medical school and continuing-education programs. However, these are often reportedly sponsored by drug companies who would perhaps have an interest in influencing doctors to purchase and prescribe their drugs. Drug companies are said to have a very strong presence when it comes to marketing in America, and it’s something that is currently under close scrutiny.

Reportedly, major American drug companies have previously been in trouble with the law for “pushy” sales tactics, including colluding with their competitors and disguising salespersons as “drug experts” to boost sales. The latter tactic has also included exaggerating the benefits of drugs while understating the number of side effects and the changes of them occurring.

This kind of behaviour really doesn’t help the problems we face in terms of any ‘over-reliance’ on medications; a problem that’s believed to be both in America and here in the U.K.

Of course, doctors still have the responsibility to check what they’re prescribing, and there is usually enough information online for any patient or doctor to be able to make an informed decision; but where we simply rely on the advice of our doctor, we’re potentially being put at risk…

At a time where the level of NHS funding remains a questionable issue, it is worrying to think that there may be a real lack of clarity for patients, and people can easily end up suffering as a result of this.