FDA Now Provides Emerging Drug Safety Information By Means Of Audio Broadcasts, Or Podcasts

Recent Subjects Have Been Drug Recalls Involving IBS Medication Zelnorm And Parkinson's Drug Permax

(Posted by Tom Lamb at DrugInjuryWatch.com)

An April 20, 2007 FDA News item reminded doctors and other health care professionals as well as patients and interested consumers that since February 2007 the FDA has been providing its emerging drug safety information by means of audio broadcasts. These FDA broadcasts, commonly known as podcasts, are intended as an alternative to the print and Web-based public health advisories (PHAs). 

This April 2007 FDA News item states:

The [new podcast] service is part of the agency's ongoing effort to broaden and speed its communications  concerning the safety of marketed medications when unexpected adverse events are reported to FDA....

"FDA's highest priority is to protect and enhance the health of the American public," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "The service contributes to this goal by providing a new venue for busy health care professionals and patients to find drug safety information, so that they don't have to look for it on FDA's Web site or read about it in print. Timely and widely available broadcasts about previously unknown potential drug risks should help ensure that these products are used safely and effectively."

Since the FDA has started its audio broadcast of emerging drug safety information in February 2007, there have been podcasts about the drug recalls involving the IBS medication Zelnorm and the Parkinson's drug Permax.  Other public health advisories (PHAs) podcasts have covered potential hazards of some skin-numbing products that are used in hair removal, and serious adverse events associated with agents used to reduce the need for blood transfusions in cancer patients.

In each of these drug safety podcasts, the FDA reiterates its standing request that doctors and patients report to the FDA's MedWatch program any serious side effects from prescription drugs and other medical products.

MedWatch reports can be made by phone (1-800-FDA-1088), fax (1-800-FDA-0178) or online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/index.html.

One can subscribe to receive notice of newly issued FDA drug safety alert podcasts for free by going to the FDA Drug Safety Podcasts home page, which is found at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/podcast/default.htm.