FDA - US Food and Drug Administration

Some people may want to know what the FDA does to help patients and consumers. The FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has taken the charge to have programs and systems in place that will effectively protect the public health. The FDA is in place to ensure the safety and security of drugs and medicines for both human and animal consumption. The FDA oversees the efficacy of human and veterinary medicines, drugs, medical devices, our food supply, biological products, products that emit radiation and cosmetics.
One of the main ways that they accomplish this task is by making sure that our food supply is secure, sanitary and safe to eat. Also, to ensure that the medicines we take are also safe to take. Understand that no medications, drugs, or medical devices should be used without recommendation or prescription from your physician. The FDA is actually a division in the Department of Health and Human Services. There are various office locations across the United States.

To Contact the FDA:  
1-888-INFO-FDA  ( 1-888-463-6332 )
Emergency Operations numbers are: 301-796-8240 or 1-866-300-4374

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002

FDA Centers and Offices:  
• www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/default.htm    

What the FDA Regulates:

Some of the items that the FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates to maintain public safety include the following:

• Biologics
• Cosmetics
• Drugs
• Foods
• Medical Devices
• Radiation-Emitting Electronic Products
• Veterinary Products

Also see some key areas of the FDA website that may be of interest to consumers.
• Drug Safety - Drug Alerts and Statements  
www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm215175.htm    

• Information by Drug Class  
www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/default.htm      

• Drug Safety and Availability - Medication Guides
 www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM085729    

The government website has a ton of information to help you better understand about health and drug safety.

Also see:
• COPD support groups information