Using Medicines Safely

Medicines and you

Medicines can treat disease and improve your health. Most people need one at some point — every day or only now and then. Either way, you want them to be safe and to work.

Who checks them

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for making sure prescription and over-the-counter medicines are safe and effective.

Weigh the risks

Every medicine carries risk. Think about it before you take one. Even safe medicines can cause:

• unwanted side effects;
• interactions with food, alcohol or other medicines you take.

Take extra care

• Pregnancy: some medicines may not be safe.
• Children: they can be more sensitive to a medicine's effects.
• Always: take medicines correctly, to lower the risk of reactions and help you get better.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Medicines," National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.