PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAFETY INFORMATION

PHARMACIES
Every pharmacy dispensing medications is required to give a warning sheet for each drug given to customers. The warning sheets give information on the safe use of the prescribed drug, warnings about potential side effects, and other safety information. The patient should read these sheets before taking the prescription and call the pharmacist or doctor with any questions.

PHYSICIAN DESK REFERENCE
Information about prescription drugs can also be found in the Physicians Desk Reference, a reference book used by doctors and pharmacists. This reference tool is available at any library. An online version is availabe only to doctors and medical students.

MEDLINE PLUS
Consumers can also find safety information on prescription medications on the internet at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Consumers can find safety information on prescription medications by calling CDER (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) at 888-INFO-FDA or by searching on the FDA website at:
FDA: Drug information http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/default.htm#Drug%20Safety

HOW TO FIND PROVIDERS CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name:
Consumer Safety Standards.

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SOURCES: Medline Plus; U.S. Food and Drug Administration
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2007