FDA Drug Warnings 3. It is a safety scandal that the most important FDA drug warnings do not reach consumers in a clear and understandable manner. These are risks important enough that they could change the decision to prescribe or take these drugs Major FDA warnings tell about about serious drug risks such as the ability to cause cancer , stop the heart beat, destroy the liver or cause seizures. For most drugs these adverse events are rare, but still need to be balanced against the need for the drug and its medical benefits. These too are important, and tell of serious risks.
Examples are the ability of a drug to cause perforated ulcers , internal bleeding or birth defects .
For a study I once surveyed most of the major consumer guides and many of the information sheets that come from pharmacies. This is the key problem of drug safety. Any information or clear warning that might interfere with selling more drugs gets left out. Look at the beginning of the label for a black box, and get help, if you need it, to puzzle out the true hazard.