Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Cold and flu season is officially here. From runny noses and sinus infections, to fevers, sore throat, coughs, aches and more, you or a loved one are bound to be struck by a nasty bug sometime this winter. Before you head to the medicine cabinet in search of relief, there are some important things you should know about prescription medication.
According to the Utah Department of Health, over the past decade Utah has experienced a "400 percent increase in deaths associated with misuse and abuse of prescription drugs." Tragically prescription drug overdose is now one of the main causes of injury deaths in Utah.
Utah's Use Only as Directed prescription safety campaign reports that a staggering 97 percent of adults in the state have used prescription medication from a friend or family member — without getting a prescription from a doctor. This trend is a recipe for disaster, and can cause a great deal of harm to yourself or your loved ones.
Before reaching for old prescriptions, whenever you or a loved one get sick it is always best to visit a doctor and have your illness properly diagnosed. In nearly all cases you will leave with the proper medication and dose that is designed to combat your bug, which will help you get better faster.
On very rare occasions, you may be prescribed a medication that does more harm than good. This does not happen often, but when it does your recovery can be painful and could leave you facing even more medical bills and lost wages from missing work. If you suspect that you have suffered a drug injury, contact us and we will walk you through your legal options.
Here are some additional tips to keep you and your family safe this cold and flu season:
Educate - Make sure you talk to your family members about the importance of not sharing medication. This goes for antibiotics, pain medication and anything else that is prescribed by a doctor. Even if your symptoms appear to be the same, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Inform - Tell your doctor exactly which medicines and supplements you take. This can impact what they are able to prescribe and will help insure that your medications do not interact negatively.
Track - Keep a log of how many pills you are prescribed so that you are able to tell immediately if any medicine is missing.
Follow this link for more great tips about how to properly store your medication and keep your family safe.
Cold and flu season is also the perfect time to clean our your medicine cabinet and eliminate the temptation to use old prescriptions. Keep in mind that you should not just simply toss the old medicine in the trash, as it can make its way into our water system. Instead, bag up your old medicine and drop it off at one of several medication disposal locations throughout the state. To find the location closest to you visit useonlyasdirected.org
