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Summary
In the U.S., the government's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve any drug before it can be sold. This is true whether it's a prescription or an over-the-counter drug. The FDA evaluates the safety of a drug by looking at
- Side effects
- How it's manufactured
- Results of animal testing and clinical trials
The FDA also monitors a drug's safety after approval.
For you, drug safety means buying online from only legitimate pharmacies and taking your medicines correctly.
Related Issues
- Drug Development Process (Food and Drug Administration)
- FDA 101: Regulating Biological Products (Food and Drug Administration)
- Is It Really FDA Approved? (Food and Drug Administration)
- MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program (Food and Drug Administration)
- Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers (Food and Drug Administration)
- Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts (Food and Drug Administration)
Specifics
- Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Quick Tips for Buying Medicines Over the Internet: A Consumer Safety Guide (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Food and Drug Administration
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices
- SafeMedication.com (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)