P99-19 FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Media: 301-827-6242 September 30, 1999 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
An unprecedented partnership of more than 80 non-profit and corporate supporters as well as 20,000 chain drug pharmacies are working together to provide women with critical information about how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of taking both over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Three out of four doctor visits in the United States result in physicians issuing a prescription, and in 1999 alone, an estimated 3 billion prescriptions will be dispensed to patients. And yet in hundreds of cases consumers misread or don't read the label; combine different prescriptions and/or over-the-counter drugs without knowing the possible side effects; take too little or too much of a medication; or don't finish taking the prescribed amount.
The safe use of medicines is particularly important for women since they use medications more frequently than men and are more likely to supervise medication use by family members, including children and elderly parents.
"Women are the most active healthcare decision makers, and that's why the FDA Office of Women's Health is encouraging women to be particularly vigilant when taking or giving medications to their families, children and themselves," said Jane E. Henney, MD, Commissioner for Food and Drugs.
Studies show that 30% to 50% of Americans do not take their medication as directed and as a result, preventable medicine- related illnesses cost $76.6 billion dollars each year in doctor visits, unnecessary prescriptions, lost productivity and increased hospital and nursing home admissions. With the Take Time To Care program, businesses, health service groups, professional associations, other federal agencies, and religious and ethnic groups have committed to providing women with the information they need to keep themselves and their families healthy. The goal of the campaign is to distribute five million "My Medicines" brochures. The brochure has four key messages: Read the label; Avoid Problems; Ask Questions; and Keep a Record. Attached is a list of participating organizations.
In addition to pharmacy efforts, activities during the month of October include:
The brochure will be available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Polish and a number of Asian languages. To receive a free copy of the "My Medicines" brochure (in English and Spanish) call toll free 1-888-8-PUEBLO or log onto the Office of Women's Health web site at www.fda.gov/womens/tttc.html.
The FDA acknowledges all of the Take Time To Care campaign's participating organizations and pharmacies.
The Office of Women's Health was created by the Food and Drug Administration in 1994. Its establishment began a new chapter in the agency's commitment to women's health issues. The FDA has jurisdiction over the drugs, medical devices, vaccines, blood and tissue products, foods and cosmetics on which every American woman and her family depend -- about 25% of every consumer dollar.