Drug Safety Summary In the U.S., the government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve any drug before it can be sold. This is true whether it’s a prescription or an over-the-counter drug. The FDA evaluates the safety of a drug by looking at Side effects How it’s manufactured Results of animal testing and clinical trials The FDA also monitors a drug’s safety after approval. For you, drug safety means buying online from only legitimate pharmacies and taking your medicines correctly. Start Here Buying & Using Medicine Safely Food and Drug Administration JAMA Patient Page: FDA Approval of New Drugs American Medical Association Specifics Buying Prescription Medicine Online: A Consumer Safety Guide Food and Drug Administration Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers Food and Drug Administration Special Risks of Pharmacy Compounding Food and Drug Administration Related Issues Drug Development Process Food and Drug Administration FDA 101: Regulating Biological Products Food and Drug Administration Is It Really FDA Approved? Food and Drug Administration MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program Food and Drug Administration Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers Food and Drug Administration Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Food and Drug Administration What Are Unapproved Drugs and Why Are They on the Market? Food and Drug Administration Find an Expert Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration Institute for Safe Medication Practices Institute for Safe Medication Practices SafeMedication.com American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Journal Articles Drug Safety