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Free drug samples have hidden drawbacks.(Brief article)

Consumer Reports

| August 01, 2007 | COPYRIGHT 2007 Consumers Union of the United States, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)Copyright

Getting free samples of prescription medications from your doctor might sound like a great deal, but it's a potentially risky practice for several reasons.

You might not get printed instructions. In general, free samples don't show the side effects or precautions on the label, and you might not receive accompanying inserts. Other research has shown that oral instructions from physicians are insufficient to ensure proper drug use.

There's no safety system. The medication won't be entered into your pharmacy's computer system, which screens for harmful interaction or duplication with other drugs and supplements you take, allergies you might have, and unacceptable doses. And you might not be alerted if a safety issue arises, such as a drug recall.

They might not be the best choice. ...

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