What can patients do to protect themselves from unsafe drugs?

Patients can be confident that the drug they are taking has been thoroughly studied and evaluated in a series of clinical trials before the FDA approved it for the public. Nevertheless, there are some important steps patients should take to make sure their medicines are safe for them:

• Understand the side effects.
• Follow the directions on how to take the medicine.
• Monitor how the medicine makes you feel and report this to your physician.
• Only fill prescriptions from a reputable pharmacy that has a licensed pharmacist on staff; avoid internet pharmacies and be aware of counterfeit drugs.

If you decide to buy your prescription drugs online, be sure to follow these guidelines offered by the FDA.