FDA releases consumer health information updates

FDA Consumer Health Information Updates

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today released its latest listing of consumer health information updates. All articles can be accessed from the agency's Web page for consumers. You can sign-up for e-mail notices of new consumer updates on an immediate, weekly, or monthly basis.
A Consumer Update RSS feed is also available.

-- Facing Facts About Acne
Acne can cause significant emotional distress, as well as permanent scarring of skin tissue. Here's a look at the various types of acne, treatments and tips for keeping acne under control.

-- FDA Expands Access to Investigational Drugs
The FDA has announced changes to the rules to make them broader and clearer for the patient and the treating physician, while still preserving the integrity of clinical trials designed to find out whether a drug has a desired effect on a disease or condition.

-- FDA's MedWatch Safety Alerts: August 2009
The FDA has issued recent safety alerts on these medical products. MedWatch is for reporting any unexpected side effects that occur while using human drugs, medical devices, vaccines and other biologics, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.

-- Warning on Body Building Products Marketed as Containing Steroids or Steroid-Like Substances
The FDA has warned consumers about products that are being marketed for body building and that claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances. Although these products are marketed as dietary supplements, they are in fact unapproved and misbranded drugs.

Updates may be published elsewhere without permission. Please credit "FDA Consumer Health Information" (http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/default.htm) as the source. The FDA values feedback on its consumer Web page. Send questions, comments, or story ideas to: [email protected].

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The agency is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.