How do you know if the drugs your doctor recommends are safe? That's a question more and more of us face as we get older because people over 50 are much more likely to be taking prescription medications for long-term conditions like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. We assume that if a drug has been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, it is generally safe and effective – and most of the time, that is true. But the FDA's approval is only as good as the information it gets from the drug companies and when that information is incomplete, patients are the ultimate victims.
The FDA keeps track of drugs even after they have been approved and that's where the information stream can get a little tangled. Once a drug is in mass circulation, there is a greater chance that side effects will become more apparent. It doesn't necessarily mean that the drug company was hiding something in the initial tests; it's just that many more patients mean many more chances to find out if there are problems with a particular medication.
Late last month, the FDA warned pharmaceutical giant Pfizer that it had to do a much better job of reporting serious and unexpected side effects from such best-selling drugs as Viagra (for erectile dysfunction), Lipitor (for high cholesterol) and Lyrica (an anti-seizure medication). The FDA said that Pfizer had not properly identified or documented problems after the drugs were approved. Pfizer blamed computer problems and said that it was fixing its reporting procedures. The FDA isn't buying that, and is giving Pfizer until the middle of this month to prove that they are doing a better job of tracking things.
If you're taking one of these drugs – or any medication, for that matter – be sure and tell your doctor if you notice any side effects. That's not only good for your health, but it's an important part of the safety process. Your doctor needs to know so he or she can pass that information on. You can also contact the FDA directly.