Tips for Drug Safety

DO's

• Ask your doctor. Always ask your doctor if the drug he is prescribing is new on the market. If so, ask if there are older (5 years+) products available (they will likely be less expensive too!). Ask if he is aware of any potential safety issues and side effects. Also find out if he or she accepts gifts or payment from any of the pharmaceutical companies.

• Be a tough customer. If you're not satisfied with the answers you're getting from your doctor, find a new one. Ask friends for recommendations, check the doctor's credentials and ask for references. During the interview, find out how they research new drugs and their general approach to prescribing drugs. Also ask whether or not they accept gifts or money from any of the drug companies. Don't be afraid to ask tough questions -- your health is at issue and you need to be your own best advocate!

• Be a good patient. Make sure your doctor is aware of all the prescription drugs and herbal remedies you're taking. Also make sure he or she knows about you and your family's medical history. Take your medicine exactly as prescribed and don't hesitate to call your doctor if you begin to experience side effects.

• Do your homework. There are many resources for researching drugs:
  - The FDA
  - Public Citizen - (check the Health Resource Group)

  - WorstPills.org

  For more, just do a search on your favorite search engine (if a bunch of law firms appear, you'll know there are problems!)

• Focus on prevention. Of course, the best way to avoid unsafe drugs is to stay healthy so you won't need them. You know the drill -- exercise, eat well, get plenty of rest and try to avoid stress.

• If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you're on an established medication that's working for you, don't switch to the latest "breakthrough" product. Remember, drugs are not tested for long-term safety before they're put on the market. Also remember that very few new drugs represent any improvement over what's already out there.

• Don't be a guinea pig. Not only are drugs put on the market after limited testing, they are commonly prescribed for conditions they have never been approved or tested for at all! This practice, called "off-label" prescribing, is used by drug companies to create bigger markets for their products. Make sure any drug you take has been "indicated" or approved by the FDA for the specific ailment in question (read the prescription information, go to http://www.fda.gov or visit the drug's website to find approved uses).

• Don't expect a pill for everything. Americans are heavily over-prescribed drugs. Because of all the drug advertising on TV we think there is a quick fix for everything and doctors feel under pressure to send us away with a prescription. But the best remedy for a cold virus is still to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest!

• Don't play doctor. Never share your prescriptions with others or accept a pharmaceutical drug from someone. This happens more than you think especially with painkillers; however giving someone a narcotic for their headache is a whole different ballgame than giving them a couple of aspirin.

• Don't be careless. It goes without saying -- but we're saying it anyway -- keep your medications safely out of reach of young children and protected from your teenagers, and discard any unused portions immediately.