Medicines

Summary

Medicines can treat diseases and improve your health. If you are like most people, you need to take medicine at some point in your life. You may need to take medicine every day, or you may only need to take medicine once in a while. Either way, you want to make sure that your medicines are safe, and that they will help you get better. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of ensuring that your prescription and over-the-counter medicines are safe and effective.

There are always risks to taking medicines. It is important to think about these risks before you take a medicine. Even safe medicines can cause unwanted side effects or interactions with food, alcohol, or other medicines you may be taking. Some medicines may not be safe during pregnancy. To reduce the risk of reactions and make sure that you get better, it is important for you to take your medicines correctly. You should also be careful when giving medicines to children, since they can be more vulnerable to the effects of medicines.

Older Adults

• As You Age: You and Your Medicines Food and Drug Administration
• Four Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults Food and Drug Administration
• Medications Older Adults Should Avoid or Use With Caution AGS Health in Aging Foundation

Statistics and Research

• Aspirin to Zoloft: Ways Medicines Work National Institute of General Medical Sciences
• FastStats: Therapeutic Drug Use National Center for Health Statistics
• LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury National Library of Medicine
• Medicine’s Life Inside the Body National Institute of General Medical Sciences
• Medicines by Design National Institute of General Medical Sciences
• What Is Pharmacogenomics? National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Related Issues

• Biosimilar and Interchangeable Biologics: More Treatment Choices Food and Drug Administration
• Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know Food and Drug Administration
• Electronic Prescribing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Generic Drugs Undergo Rigorous FDA Review Food and Drug Administration
• Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers Food and Drug Administration
• Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• How to Use Liquid Medications American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• How to Use Transdermal Patches American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health Food and Drug Administration
• Some Medicines and Driving Don’t Mix Food and Drug Administration
• Understanding Unapproved Use of Approved Drugs “Off Label” Food and Drug Administration
• Using Medicines Wisely Food and Drug Administration
• Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines Food and Drug Administration

Patient Handouts

• Drawing medicine out of a vial Medical Encyclopedia
• How and when to get rid of unused medicines Medical Encyclopedia
• How to save money on medicines Medical Encyclopedia
• IV treatment at home Medical Encyclopedia
• Storing your medicines Medical Encyclopedia
• Therapeutic drug levels Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Drugs@FDA: FDA Approved Drug Products Food and Drug Administration
• Index to Drug-Specific Information Food and Drug Administration
• Information for Consumers and Patients (Drugs) Food and Drug Administration
• MedlinePlus: Drug Information National Library of Medicine
• Think It Through: Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines Food and Drug Administration

Find an Expert

• Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration

Encyclopedia

• Giving an IM (intramuscular) injection Medical Encyclopedia
• Taking medicines – what to ask your provider Medical Encyclopedia
• When you feel like changing your medicine Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Medicines and Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Women

• Osteoporosis Endocrine Society

Diagnosis and Tests

• Pharmacogenetic Tests National Library of Medicine
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Medicines

Teenagers

• Understanding Medications and What They Do Nemours Foundation

Genetics

• Using Genes to Guide Prescriptions National Institute of General Medical Sciences