Latest Thoughts on Drug Safety

Posted by Anthony Lee Jul 4, 2009

This past week, two news stories have caught my attention. Both are related to drug safety, something the public may be interested in knowing more about.

Since the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson, there has been much discussion about his use of multiple prescription drugs. In the midst of these rumors, there was talk about Jackson suffering from insomnia to the point where he requested the intravenous sedative drug Diprivan (whose generic name is propofol). This drug is used in intensive care units to calm patients when they're on ventilators as well as for certain procedures, such as colonoscopy. However, it's never used outside a clinical setting under any circumstances.

I'm not going to comment on whether Diprivan was a factor in Jackson's death. What I shall do instead is remind everyone that all drugs have warning labels and precautions for a reason. They can be dangerous if used for unapproved situations. If a doctor is reluctant to prescribe something because of its risks for the patient, it may be something to keep in mind.

This, of course, segues into the other news story I noticed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is being urged to place restrictions on the dosage of Tylenol (whose generic name is acetaminophen). While this pain medication is used very commonly, it is responsible for a significant number of cases of acute liver failure.

Some might find this hard to believe. How can this happen if Tylenol is over-the-counter (OTC)? It is true that OTC drugs are safe enough to not require a doctor's prescription, but it doesn't mean they're completely safe. They can still be dangerous if used incorrectly against the warnings on the box.

Overall, when it comes to drugs, efficacy is important. But so is safety.