When prescribed a dosage for a medicine by a certified physician, it is absolutely necessary for the patient to follow the prescription to a tee for effective treatment. Medicines, whether antibiotics or nutritional supplements, must be taken at the prescribed time and in the right dosages to effectively work against a pathogen or increase immunity against a virus.
The Causes of Wrong Dosage
Surveys report that about 75% of patients are unable or forget to follow their dosages regularly. There are several ways to tackle these problems. Keeping medicines in seven-day pillboxes and using alarms to remind yourself are effective methods against forgetfulness. If the medicines are too expensive for the patient to afford, they should be advised to talk to their doctors and work out a solution. One of the other reasons why people may not stick to the right dosage is that they ignore professional advice in favor of their own judgement. This is a serious error as most people lack the training or education to match professional medical advice.
The Risks of Incorrect Dosage
There are several risks involved in not following the right dosage of prescribed medicines. The treatment may be rendered ineffective through a reduced dosage, while an overdose may lead to serious side effects. In light of the above points, it is critical for the patients to complete the prescribed course of medicines while following their doctor’s directions strictly for an efficient and reliable recovery.