FDA addresses pain medication use during pregnancy

In a recent announcement from the FDA, the organization advised patients to consider the implications of taking over-the-counter painkillers during pregnancy. The statement says that the FDA has looked at medical research and now warns healthcare professionals to talk with patients about the use of certain medications and specifically to focus on the instructions on medicine labels for guidance.

Because pregnancy can lead to pains, it’s not uncommon for pregnant women to think about the different options available to make it more bearable. According to the source, options include different classes of readily-available products, from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to medicine cabinet standards like acetaminophen.

Although responsibility falls on doctors and care providers to communicate side effects to their patients, the FDA statement highlights the role of drug packaging to keep consumers informed.  

The decision to use pain medication can be a significant for any patient. The National Institute of Health’s recent study on the impact that opioids have on long-term pain shows that this class of painkillers in particular is being used more and more in this country, creating the potential for possible harm, according to TIME magazine.

It might seem that labels have limited space and ability to address medication information, but educating users on risks and dangers helps to promote safe use of these products. When designing the exterior of a certain medicine, producers need to have some grasp of what the consumer reaction will be and how they can draw attention to important data.

Proper product label printing will help the product make a stronger impact on the customer and improve patient use by giving them a greater understanding of what it is a drug does before they become a regular user.