Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is starting to post online information about specific drugs that it is evaluating for potential safety risks. The FDA emphasized that the listing of a drug on the FDA list does not mean that there is a definite safety issue with the drug but only that the FDA is evaluating whether there is a true drug safety risk.

The first quarterly report was posted on the FDA's website today, and new ones will be posted each quarter. Apparently, the information is being posted publicly under a recent law requiring FDA to inform the public of new potential safety information based on adverse drug event reports sent to the FDA.

According to the Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA, "…Don't stop taking your medicine. If your doctor has prescribed a drug that appears on this list, you should continue taking it unless your doctor advises you differently." 

If you suspect that you have a possible side effect to a drug or medical device, you should report this to your doctor as soon as possible. Physicians are required to forward reports of confirmed drug and medical device safety issues to the FDA.

Readers with questions about drug safety issues may wish to post a question at Healia Communities.