By law, pharmaceutical products must provide specific information. The label must include information about dosage, instructions, frequency of use, and potential interactions to avoid. The patient’s name must be correct and legible to avoid dangerous mix-ups. Unfortunately, labeling errors can have dangerous and even fatal consequences for patients. Learn about the dangers of mislabeling pharmaceutical products by reading below.
Drug Interactions
Mislabeled pharmaceutical products are dangerous to people who take other medications. Some drugs interact in negative ways, and it can affect the user, potentially putting their life in danger. Labels should also have notes about foods that you can’t eat while taking the product. Certain foods will interact badly with certain drugs or even weaken their benefits.
Side Effects
Safety regarding side effects is one aspect of the importance of product labeling, since patients need to know what they may experience. They should know what effects are normal and what effects are not. Some abnormal effects may require them to call a doctor. If there are side effects that make one unable to safely operate a vehicle or heavy machinery, it’s imperative to include a warning. The patient could put themselves and others in danger.
Overdoses
One of the most lethal dangers of mislabeling pharmaceutical products is the possibility of an overdose. If there are mistakes with the dosage information, instructions, or frequency of use, then a product could put its users in danger. The label should also have warnings about symptoms to look out for in case of an overdose, and who to call for help.
Patient Incorrectly Medicated
Ultimately, pharmaceutical product label mishaps lead to the patient being incorrectly medicated. If they are undermedicated, they don’t get the health benefits they should. If they are overmedicated or experiencing unknown side effects or interactions, they could be in danger. It is critical that patients know exactly what to expect from their pharmaceutical products through correct labeling.
