Are Health Care Professionals Paying Attention to the Food and Drug Administration's Safety Warnings?

Smith A. Consumers tune out FDA warnings: a high volume of safety alerts from the nation's drug regulator has doctors and patients wondering just what to believe. CNNMoney.com. February 25, 2008. http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/22/news/companies/fdawarning_fatigue/index.htm?postversion=2008022514. Accessed February 26, 2008.

Olfson M. , Marcus S.C. , Druss B.G. Effects of Food and Drug Administration warnings on antidepressant use in a national sample. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008; 65(1): 94–101.

Leon A.C. The revised warning for antidepressants and suicidality: unveiling the black box of statistical analyses. Am J Psychiatry. 2007; 164(12): 1786–1789.

Valuck R.J. , Libby A.M. , Orton H.D. , Morrato E.H. , Allen R. , Baldessarini R.J. Spillover effects on treatment of adult depression in primary care after FDA advisory on risk of pediatric suicidality with SSRIs. Am J Psychiatry. 2007; 164(8): 1198–1205.

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MedWatch - Tiotropium (marketed as Spiriva HandiHaler): ongoing safety review - possible increased risk of stroke. Food and Drug Administration. March 18, 2008. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/early_comm/tiotropium.htm. Accessed March 20, 2008.

Kritz F.L. Why all the drug alerts? WashingtonPost.com February 26, 2008. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/22/AR2008022202686.html. Accessed March 20, 2008. ■