Is it Normal for a Doctor Not to Know the Effects of a Medication?
Feb 24, 2016
Doctors are incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to medical conditions, injuries, treatments, and medications. But should you expect your physician to know the ins and outs of every medication on the market? In other words, is it normal for a doctor to NOT know the effects of a particular medication? That’s our topic for today’s article.
There are thousands of FDA approved drugs on the market that a doctor may prescribe a patient. With that many medications, it’s difficult for a doctor to be an expert on every single one. While there are many individual drugs approved by the FDA, many are used to treat similar conditions and have similar side effects.
So while your physician may not know everything about every FDA-approved drug on the market, they likely have a good grasp on the drug’s category and similar medications. If you are curious about a specific drug or a new drug, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor. Even if they aren’t familiar with it, they will be able to do some research and provide you some feedback and advice.
On another note, some doctors know more about prescription medications than others. A pain management physician is generally going to have a more in-depth knowledge of specific meds than a surgeon would. That’s not to say that surgeons are clueless when it comes to medication – but their primary focus is on surgical techniques. A pain management doctor, on the other hand, focuses solely on the identification and treatment of pain conditions.
If you have questions regarding any medication you’re taking, or that you’re considering taking, contact a qualified pain management doctor today. At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN our pain relief specialists are well versed in the effects of all FDA-approved medications. Contact our office to set up your appointment with one of our pain physicians.