How are Prescription Pill Counts Calculated?

Prescription drugs are, by definition, regulated. You can’t go down to your local drug store and buy them like ibuprofen. Rather, you need a prescription from a licensed medical professional. It’s up to the discretion of the prescribing doctor to determine how much of a certain medication you are prescribed. But many patients are curious about how doctors calculate the amount of pain pills prescribed. In this article, we are going to talk about how prescription pain pill amounts are calculated.

Calculating Pill Counts

Calculating pill counts is a complicated science. Each drug is different and, as such, requires different dosages. To make things even more complex – each patient reacts differently to any given drug. As a result, pill counts are very subjective. To determine a prescription, your doctor will take a look at your medical history and general health. Then they will likely prescribe you a small amount for a 30 day period. As you and your physician move forward and acquire a better understanding of how the drug affects you, pill counts can be adjusted.

Preventing Addiction

Perhaps the most important reason why prescription drugs are regulated is that many of these medications are highly addictive. It’s very easy for a patient to become dependent without even realizing it until after the fact. Many patients get agitated when their prescription runs out and their doctor or pharmacy won’t re-up the prescription right away. However, your doctor isn’t doing this to spite you. They are doing it to prevent you from becoming addicted to the drug in question. So remember not to get mad at your prescribing physician – they have your best interests and health at heart.

Preventing pain pill addiction after spine surgery is a paramount concern. Inspired Spine procedures were created to decrease patient pain after surgery – making pain pill addiction less risky. If you want to learn more about these procedures, contact us today.