Drug Safety Checklist

What You Should Know

Nearly 70% of doctors tell patients nothing about adverse effects when they prescribe a drug. Here are five key questions you should ask about every drug you take.

1	Is a small overdose dangerous?
	When the margin of safety is small, special care is needed.
2	Are there withdrawal or rebound effects?
	With some drugs the problems begin when you stop taking them.
3	A major FDA warning for this drug?
	These important safety bulletins seldom reaches consumers.
4	Can it change mood or behavior?
	When the margin of safety is small, special care is needed.
5	Does it interact with many other drugs
	These require special precautions whenever you start or stop another drug.

Other Information Sources:

In Prescription for Disaster, three chapters describe a consumer strategy for getting the benefits of drugs while reducing the risks.

Visit the site of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (I am pleased to be affiliated)

You might also want to consider the Public Citizen Research Group's guide Best Pills/Worst Pills.