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Health Corner

(Church and Society)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an official online publication, FDA Consumer, that offers a wealth of new and in-depth information on how to get healthy and stay healthy. The publication reports FDA activities and information about products that the FDA regulates, such as food, human and animal drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, radiation-emitting products, and biologics. Web site is FDA.

The National Council on Patient Information and Education provides information about the proper use of medicines. MedWise seeks to help the public understand that over-the-counter medications are serious medicines that must be taken with care. There is a teaching tool instructing people on how to read drug labels correctly. Recently, the FDA has changed the way OTC medications are labeled and now requires a standardized label that clearly shows the drug ingredients and warnings. The new label makes it easier for consumers to understand the drug’s benefits and risks, as well as proper usage. A brochure, “Use Over-the Counter Medicines Wisely” can be down loaded in both English and Spanish. Web site in MedWise.

Source: Nurseweek June 2004