Medicines (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: Drugs, Medications

Everyone knows what medicines are for - to make you feel better when you are sick. But many people don't realize that all medicines have risks as well as benefits. The risks of medicines include unwanted side effects or interactions with food or other medicines you may be taking. Some risks are not very serious, like an upset stomach. Others, like liver damage, are more serious.

When a medicine's benefits outweigh its known risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers it safe enough to approve. Both prescription and over-the-counter medicines must be approved before they can be sold in the U.S.

To reduce the risk of a problem, follow the directions carefully when taking medicines. Make sure that your health care provider knows all of the medicines and supplements you are using. Also, make sure to mention if you are pregnant or nursing. Some medicines can hurt your baby.

Start Here

Taking Medicines(National Institute of General Medical Sciences) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/takingmedicines/toc.html
Think It Through: A Guide to Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/think.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/think_Spanish.htm
Use Medicine Safely(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/medsafe.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/medicina.html

Overviews

Check Your Medicines(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/checkmeds.htm
Drug Information for Consumers(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/info/consumer.htm
Frequently Asked Questions about Pharmacogenetics(National Institute of General Medical Sciences) - http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Initiatives/PGRN/Background/pgrn_faq.htm
Index to Drug-Specific Information(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/DrugSafety/DrugIndex.htm
Just Ask! A Dozen Questions to Help You Understand Your Medicines(United States Pharmacopeial Convention) - Links to PDF - http://www.usp.org/pdf/EN/patientSafety/justAskDozenQs.pdf
Medications and You(American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) - http://www.safemedication.com/meds/medSafety.cfm
MedlinePlus: Drug Information(American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Natural Standard) - Information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/druginformation.html