Unsafe Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs

About millions of people use prescription medicines daily various ailments and diseases. In the past few years, there has been continuous rise in the prescription drugs. In 1989, more than 1.5 billion prescription medications were sold in the U.S. According to the survey conducted by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the no. has doubled to more than 3 billion. Due to the ever-rising demand of prescribed medicines, it is important to ensure that Americans have affordable, safe and effective medications.

The purpose of over –the – counter medicines and prescription is to improve the condition of people suffering from heath ailments. However, there are certain diseases that may cause harm. It is the duty of the health care professionals or doctors ,  pharmacists and drug manufacturers to ensure that the prescribed drugs are not harmful to health.  They also have a responsibility to make sure that medication and proper care is provided to patients.

Despite all the assurance given, many patients suffer from illness and injuries caused due to over the counter and prescription drugs. Some of these diseases and illness may lead to death. For the approval of the drugs, prescription drugs are pushed through FDAs trial process. In majority of the cases, dangerous medicines pass through the FDAs trial because trials are not large enough to detect the risks of side effects . Due to the hasty drugs approval , thousands of people die in United States.

Moreover, FDA cannot prevent wrong prescription of drugs and accidental use of drugs. The FDAs role is not limited to approval of the drug only. After the approval of the drug , it is the responsibility  of the FDA to monitor a drug continuously. However, pharmaceutical manufacturer is responsible for diseases and illness caused due to defective medication.

At present, there are no. of cases pending against pharmaceutical companies for manufacturing harmful and defective drugs. Since 1993, as many as ten high profile drugs have withdrawn from the market because of defective drugs and dietary supplements. For example , Vioxx was withdrawn from the market because it was found to cause blood clots , heart attacks , strokes and cardiovascular complications,

It is difficult for a patient to understand that prescribed drugs are potentially harmful for him . It is uncomfortable, distressing and unsettling for a patient to believe that the prescribed drugs are unsafe. It is because patients believe that these drugs are prescribed by healthcare professionals , pharmacists or doctors to whom they trust completely.

Mis-fill happens when a doctor or health care professional fills a prescription in an improper way. Because of the ever-rising cost of medication in the United States, patients have started looking for cheaper solutions. This has resulted into a large amount of mail orders of prescribed drugs, the transaction of which are conducted on internet.

As it is not possible for FDA to regulate all the mail order drugs , large no. of non FDA approved drugs are imported everyday. Such drugs are causing many health ailments among the people of United States. FDA has warned people not to buy the drugs online because many online medicine sites are not licensed and may provide patients with defective medicines.