New website allows consumers to freely access and to share the latest information about more than 68,000 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including recalls, warnings, side effects and more.
Consultwebs.com has unveiled a new informational and networking resource, RecallGuide.org, that empowers consumers by allowing them to freely access and share up-to-date information about thousands of prescription and over-the-counter drugs on the U.S market.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2.6 billion drugs are ordered or provided in the U.S. every year, with anti-depressants, pain relievers and cholesterol-lowering medications being the most frequently prescribed.
But as research shows, not all of these drugs are safe. A study published in July 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that at least one “clinically important” drug recall happens nearly every month in the U.S.
The problem, according to the same study: Information about these recalls is not always effectively communicated to consumers – or even health care providers.
“RecallGuide.org helps to eliminate the information gap,” says Jonathan Weiss, the project lead who spearheaded the site’s design and development for Consultwebs.com, an online consulting company that works with partners across the country on consumer safety education.
“It’s not only drug recalls that consumers may not know about, but also very basic information about the medications they and their loved ones are taking, including their dangerous and potentially deadly side effects and other risks,” Weiss says, noting that the CDC reported in 2011 that drug overdose rates in the U.S. had “more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher.”
“RecallGuide.org allows consumers to gain a wealth of knowledge about these medications, and it also allows them to share information among each other and talk about what’s really happening. The goal is simple: Making us all safer.”
The easy-to-use, mobile-friendly site features in-depth profiles of more than 68,000 medications.
The profiles are updated daily to provide the most current prices, labels, warnings, recall notices and other information about each drug, including their reported side effects. The information is drawn directly from authoritative databases and sources, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The site also features a blog that reports on topics such as the recent loss of celebrities to prescription drug overdoses or the problem of prescription drug abuse on college campuses.
Additionally, consumers can create their own secure, personalized account, My Medbox and receive important notices and alerts for the medications they are tracking.
RecallGuide.org also allows consumers to participate in an active online community to share information and their insights and personal experiences with others.
“With RecallGuide.org’s online community, consumers can help each other to stay informed about news reports, studies, recalls and warnings about the medications they are taking. It can also help consumers to know that others are experiencing the same issues with a specific drug,” Weiss says, adding:
“The reality is that, very often, the greatest source of information consumers have is each other.”
About RecallGuide.org
RecallGuide.org is a project of Consultwebs.com, which works with partners throughout the U.S. to inform consumers about product safety issues. To learn more information about Consultwebs.com and RecallGuide.org, please contact Marjorie Marr, PR Specialist, at press@recallguide.org or (919) 445-1744.
