Protecting America's Health Through Human Drugs

A Special Report From the FDA Consumer Magazine and the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Fourth Edition / January 2006

• CDER: The Consumer Watchdog for Safe and Effective Drugs
• A Conversation About the FDA and Drug Regulation, With Janet Woodcock, M.D.
• The Beginnings: Laboratory and Animal Studies
• Inside Clinical Trials: Testing Medical Products in People
• The FDA's Drug Review Process: Ensuring Drugs Are Safe and Effective
• Advisory Committees: Critical to the FDA's Product Review Process
• Greater Access to Generic Drugs
• Now Available Without a Prescription
• OTC Drug Facts Label
• MedWatch: Managing Risks at the FDA
• Strategies to Reduce Medication Errors: Working to Improve Medication Safety
• Public Affairs Specialists: FDA's community-based educators
• Think it Through: Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines
• Use Caution Buying Medical Products Online
• Imported Drugs Raise Safety Concerns
• The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
• Orphan Products: Hope for People With Rare Diseases
• Drug Research and Children
• As You Age: You and Your Medicines
• Battle of the Bugs: Fighting Antibiotic Resistance
• The Importance of Public Comment to the FDA
• How to Obtain Information About Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs