Pain Management Expert Opines on Drug Induced Injuries

ByJoseph O'Neill

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Updated onDecember 20, 2017

Pain Management Expert Opines on Drug Induced Injuries

This pain medicine case involves a male patient in Oklahoma with a known history of being a poor drug metabolizer. Shortly before the events of the incident in question, the patient sought treatment for abdominal pain from the defendant doctor. During this initial visit the patient was prescribed pain medication. The patient presented back to the defendant with complaints of vertigo, confusion, and difficulties talking and thinking. Nevertheless, the prescription was continued, and the man was told he would merely need a canalith re-positioning procedure to counteract the vertigo. Follow up care was sought by the patient again less than a month later. Medical documentation indicates that he presented in a wheelchair with noted dizziness and trouble walking. The patient then sought treatment from a new doctor shortly after this visit. Once again, his chief complaints were dizziness, nausea, and ataxia. The new doctor assessed the patient as having akathisia due to his use of prescribed medication. At this point he was advised to discontinue any use of the medication. The patient was diagnosed with probable drug induced dyskinesia with a high likelihood of irreversibility.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Are you familiar with medication contraindications, side-effects, and possible interactions with other medications?

2. Should a patient that is a poor drug metabolizer be prescribed this drug?

Expert Witness Response E-033660

inline imageI am familiar with contraindications, side-effects, and possible interactions with other medications for the drug in question here. Certainly there is heightened risk of side effect with known poor metabolizers. Informed consent, making the patient aware of potential risks and discerning the benefits are key to guiding the rationale to continue therapy and shared decision making. This said, close follow up and providing the patient with detailed information on concerns to look out for is paramount. Indeed when symptoms appear discontinuing/suspending the medication is critical. Moreover, most use of this drug is for periods of time less than 3 months (incidentally the medication is typically prescribed as needed and not scheduled daily). The cumulative dosing over 5 months is unusual.

About the author

Joseph O'Neill

Joseph O'Neill

Joe has extensive experience in online journalism and technical writing across a range of legal topics, including personal injury, meidcal malpractice, mass torts, consumer litigation, commercial litigation, and more. Joe spent close to six years working at Expert Institute, finishing up his role here as Director of Marketing. He has considerable knowledge across an array of legal topics pertaining to expert witnesses. Currently, Joe servces as Owner and Demand Generation Consultant at LightSail Consulting.

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