Pharmacies’ Data on Drugs Often Varies:  Watching Out for Your Safety and Pocketbook

On February 22, 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution released a news article about the inconsistencies and lack of information found in the Medication Information Sheets from chain drug stores.  These patient pamphlets are leaving out important information such as monitoring parameters, contraindications, drug interaction, and what to do when side effects occur.  The FDA requires that Medication Guides be dispensed only with certain medications to inform patients on a specific risk rather than a broader overview of the medication.  It is currently required that all patients receive a Medication Information Sheet with their new prescriptions, but regulations on these guides need to be more stringent.  Some chain drug stores are more thorough than others with the information provided in these pamphlets, which demonstrates the need for stricter rules.  Patients feel that they are not getting the right information to make a decision whether or not they should take the new medication prescribed to them.

A representative from the FDA admitted that “the current voluntary system has failed to provide consumers with the quality information they need in order to use medicines effectively and safely.”  The FDA realizes that this lack of information is a concern to patients.  They are taking requests for how to improve the current system to ensure consumers receive the necessary information about their prescription medications.  You can send your recommendations on how to improve this problem to the FDA by writing to Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Adminsitration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852 or by electronic submission at www.regulations.gov (reference Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0038.

This article also recommends that patients do their part to gain valuable information about their medications by talking to their doctors in detail about each new medication, monitoring any new symptoms associated with the start of a new medications (keeping in mind that some adverse events can take weeks to occur), and get information from pharmacists such as side effects, drug interactions, and the most effective way to use the medications.  They also recommend that patients be especially careful when using insulin, warfarin, and digoxin because they can be the most dangerous medications especially in the elderly population. 

References:
1)  Young, Allison.  Pharmacies’ data on drugs often varies:  Watching out for your safety and pocketbook [updated February 22, 2009].  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Available at: http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/02/22/spotlight02223dot.html.  Accessed February 26, 2009.
2)  Food and Drug Administration Staff.  Medication Guides for Certain Prescription Products [updated June 6, 2007].  Food and Drug Administration.  Available at: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/medguides060607.html.  Accessed February 26, 2009.

Prepared by Ashlee Weitzman, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate