

Why is medication information so important?

Medication information is critical for patients, caregivers, and health care providers to understand prescription drug dosage, administration, side effects, adverse reactions, and interactions with other drugs. This confidence helps ensure patient health and safety and achieve higher compliance.

Why medication information on paper?

The 1938 United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that written, printed, or graphic matter bearing directions for use and warnings be upon the immediate container of any article.  In addition, research shows that patients prefer and better comprehend medication information on paper.

What about information in electronic form?

We support the availability of medication information in electronic form as a complement to information on paper. However, we strongly oppose efforts to make electronic media the ONLY source of medication information . Not everyone has access to electronic information, and the information itself may not be available for any number of reasons, not the least of which are power outages from natural or man-made causes. As well, several recent studies, including those by the U.S. Department of Commerce, indicate that up to 33% of Americans do not utilize electronic media under any circumstances. 33%!