If you take prescription drugs, you need to keep up on the latest news about them.
Sometimes new studies are released showing drugs may be ineffective or harmful, but the medications continue to be used while debates take place and regulatory actions drag on.
An example is Vytorin, a medication for treating high cholesterol. Last week leading doctors urged the return to use of older treatments after a study showed the drug had no result in reducing plaque buildup in the arteries.
The FDA is looking into the issue.
If you have any questions about a drug you are taking due to news reports, talk with your health care provider.
Frequently check the Web site of the federal Food and Drug Administration for recall information. You can type in the names of drugs to see if they have been recalled in the last 60 days or if any new information is available about them.
As discussed in yesterday’s post, be wary of taking new prescription medications advertised directly to consumers. Public Citizen suggests not taking prescription drugs, except true “breakthrough drugs,” unless they have been on the market for seven years.
Get information about prescription drugs from The People's Pharmacy. It offers a free newsletter you can subscribe to.
Check lists of “do not use drugs” and possible “dangerous drugs” to see if any of the prescription medications you are taking are on the lists.
A PBS documentary, “Dangerous Prescriptions,” focused on the FDA's handling of several approved drugs that were later pulled from the market after causing injuries and even deaths. It examined the role that drug companies play in the approval and monitoring of prescription drugs and questioned whether the FDA's current system is adequate for protecting the public safety.
Disclaimer: This information is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It isn’t intended to replace proper medical treatment. No one should ever begin or stop taking any prescription drug without consulting his or her health care provider.
Source for chart: FDA
Tomorrow's Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide will comment on What Boomers Need to Know About Prescription Drugs: How the Industry Sees You.
This medication was issued to me by my longtime doctor who is also one of my best friends, it was also my doctor who recommended that I order without prescription at online pharmacies
Posted by: Without Prescription | May 18, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Hi Without Prescription,
You may want to get a second opinion about Vytorin and do research about it.
Thanks for your comment.
Rita
P.S. Information on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide is not intended to replace the services of a physician. Information on this blog is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information on this blog for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition.
Posted by: Rita | June 05, 2009 at 07:08 PM