Can You Receive SSD Benefits for Medication Side Effects?

Chronic illnesses or life-threatening conditions can turn your life upside-down. Receiving certain diagnoses can easily lead to disability. Luckily, there are many treatments, such as prescription medication, that can help to treat all types of illnesses – physical or psychological. These treatments help to minimize, slow the progression of, or altogether eliminate the symptoms of your illness. This may mean that you have to take this medication for an extended period of time – or a lifetime.

Medication Can Lead to Serious Side Effects

However, while medication can be so helpful, they can also result in serious side effects that also prove extremely problematic and at times, debilitating. No one should ever have to stop taking medication if it helps with their condition. But what can be done about side effects that make it impossible to do your job?

While medication undergoes serious testing, it doesn’t always mean that they are without serious side effects. Doctors must follow standard treatment protocol when it comes to their patients. This means that they must prescribe the best medication available to solve their patients’ problems. They will then usually deal with any unwanted side effects after the fact. Sometimes this involves prescribing more medications to help treat the symptoms of the first medication.

Serious Side Effects that Can Interfere with Regular Functioning

The good news is that most medications result in minimal to no side effects. But unfortunately, for some people their medications result in severe side effects that make it difficult to function regularly. Such side effects include:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Extreme fatigue
• Confusion
• Gastrointestinal issues

These side effects (and others) can make carrying out normal job functions difficult. Since these side effects come from standard treatment protocol, the Social Security Administration (SSA), which is responsible for approving Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, views them as symptoms of your actual disability or illness.

If you have symptoms, whether primary or secondary (due to medication), that render you unable to continue working, you may qualify for SSD benefits. Any symptoms from your medication will be considered when determining whether or not you are eligible to receive benefits.

The Las Vegas SSD Attorneys at Roeschke Law, LLC Can Help

If you or a loved one is struggling with a disability that prevents you from working, you may not know how to proceed. Fortunately, the attorneys at Roeschke Law, LLC can help. We understand the impact that a disability can have on your physical, emotional, and financial health. That’s why it’s our mission to help you. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, contact us today!