Free Drug Samples Dangerous For Children

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that free drug samples are putting children at risk of serious medical problems
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that free drug samples are putting children at risk of serious medical problems.

The study says that these free drug samples are dangerous due to the fact that in more cases than not, later in the life of that drug evidence comes to light requiring tougher warnings pertaining to side effects that only are reported after people, mainly children start using it to treat their medical conditions.

Furthermore, these drugs are often given to children on Medicare programs due to their parents not having the financial capability to buy much better drugs.

The study featured the analyzing of a survey conducted bac in 2004 and found that in all more than 500,000 children received free drug samples.

Four of the drugs that were handed out in 2004, eventually needed serious revisions to their labels due to safety issues: Advair, Adderall Strattera and Elidel.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Sarah L. Cutrona, says that more attention needs to be paid to these free drug samples as many of them are just handed out with not much thought towards safety risks that may be associated with them.

“We need to discuss it more,” she said, “and maybe consider stopping the use of free samples entirely, if there are such potential harms.”

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