While the drug approval process has been speeded up for some priority drugs, the reporting of the total number of adverse effects of drugs approved since fast tracking has not been very expeditious. In1990 the FDA reported 37,000 adverse prescription drug events filed. MTI was informed by FDA that we could obtain this information only by filing a Freedom of Information request. If a drug has an excess number of adverse reports it will be pulled by the manufacturer. As an example, drugs that have estrogenic or hormonal properties and have received wide distribution, are followed closely for many years after the initial surveillance to ensure they do not present an excess risk to consumers.
Distribution is yet another area where error can infiltrate the drug to consumer process.
In years past drug manufacturers marketed almost exclusively to health care professionals. Now a large share of marketing dollars is spent marketing directly to consumers. The ever escalating number of prescriptions filled is proof this type of marketing is succeeding. However, physicians less informed, coupled with greater pressure from patients who want to take charge of their own health has created a whole new world of prescribing errors. The first drug law required that drugs meet standards of strength and purity.