Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Drug Safety


These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

"Magic Number"
Question: What is the magic number to make a drug safe. (Exp. 1-20,000)

Answer: Drug safety is something patients, health care providers, and medication manufacturers are all concerned with. Unfortunately, no specific number, or dosage, makes a medication safe or unsafe for use. Rather, a medication must first undergo rigorous research and development by the manufacturing company before it can even be tested for use. Then the drug must undergo extensive clinical trials to determine its effectiveness and side effects, as well as the benefit and risks of its use. Once all of the data from these tests are complete, the medication still must be approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The dosage of one medication can not be compared to another, since they are different chemicals, even if they are in the same "class�, or type, of medication. The way to take any medication safely, is to use it only as directed by, and under the supervision of, your health care provider.

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