| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is | | | | The FDA website offers a number of resources to |
| responsible for evaluating the safety of all foods and | | | | consumers looking for information on food safety, |
| prescriptions that enter the U.S. market. The FDA | | | | drug regulation, warnings, outbreaks, and more. For |
| sets certain regulations that must be met in order for | | | | people interested particularly in prescription drug |
| a product to pass and be approved for sale. | | | | information, the MedWatch search accessible through |
| Essentially, its main responsibility is to protect the | | | | the FDA Safety page is an excellent resource. You |
| American people from potentially dangerous products | | | | can type any drug name into the search bar and find |
| that could cause harm. Some products that are | | | | any and all information on that drug that the FDA has |
| known to cause adverse side effects in some people | | | | released. This is an especially useful tool for drugs |
| are still allowed on the market as long as a warning is | | | | that have been issued black box warnings. You can |
| placed on the box. Knowing the risks associated with | | | | learn more about the warnings and the potentially |
| drugs that you are taking or have taken in the past | | | | harmful side effects associated with that particular |
| can help you stay informed of health dangers that | | | | drug. |
| you may face. | | | | For example, one drug that has received attention |
| Black Box Warnings | | | | lately is Chantix. This is a drug designed for smokers |
| The FDA may require products to include a warning | | | | who are looking to quit. While it does help smokers |
| label on the packaging if there is evidence that the | | | | quit without the use of nicotine, users have reported |
| product poses a health risk. For example, cigarettes | | | | a number of negative side effects, including |
| must include a surgeon general's warning that informs | | | | depression, mood swings, violent tendencies, and |
| smokers of the health complications caused by | | | | suicidal tendencies. These reports prompted the FDA |
| smoking. When prescription drugs are known to | | | | to issue a black box warning for Chantix and to |
| cause adverse and possibly life-threatening side | | | | release a report on MedWatch of associated |
| effects in some people, the FDA may issue a black | | | | behavioral changes. |
| box warning. This is a warning put on the drug's | | | | For More Information |
| packaging that is outlined with a black border to | | | | To learn more about FDA regulations and warnings |
| emphasize the importance of the message. The black | | | | for potentially harmful prescription drugs, please visit |
| box warning is the most serious form of warning | | | | the website of experienced Chantix lawsuit attorneys |
| that the FDA issues. | | | | Williams Kherkher today. |
| FDA Resources | | | | |