« FDA Recommends PDUFA Renewal | Main
April 06, 2007
FDA Educating Patients Re: Online Accutane
The FDA has recently set up a website warning patients of the dangers of purchasing the drug Accutane, used for the treatment of severe acne, over the Internet. Accutane has been designated as Pregnancy Category X by the FDA, and can cause severe teratogenic and birth defects in pregnant women. It is required that women receiving Accutane have a negative pregnancy test before filling the prescription. The new FDA website advises against ordering the medication online, as online pharmacies may not screen for pregnancy before filling the prescription, or may not require a prescription at all.
It is the responsibility of pharmacists to educate patients about the dangers of Accutane, and ensure compliance with the iPledge program, the program put in place to ensure negative pregnancy tests before filling the prescriptions. Pharmacists should ensure the safety of their patients and their children.
For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov/buyonline/accutane/
Posted by kwiatkg at April 6, 2007 10:40 AM