What's New? Medication Changes 2008-2010

Every year there are new medications approved by the Federal Food & Drug Administration. Some medications are removed from the market, and new information or warnings about existing medications become available. Some of the information about these changes makes its way into public media and can cause concern among patients and some can be misleading for those without a full understanding of the facts. Nurses who talk to patients about their medications may be faced with questions about medications that patients have heard about from friends or the media. Informed nurses will be prepared to provide accurate information, allay fears or misperceptions, and reduce the potential for harm. In the following discussion, selected examples of information about recent changes will be identified.