Drugs, Devices and Supplements

Americans are bombarded with ads that begin with “Talk to your doctor about…” and plug some pharmaceutical product or device. And many doctor-patient encounters end with a prescription of some sort. The rising cost of drugs and devices is a major contributor to overall health costs in this country; whether or not we are getting value for money is an open question.

Moreover, a number of high-profile drugs have come under intense scrutiny in the last several years and Public Citizen has played an important role in many: Vioxx, Avandia, Viagra, Rezulin, Darvon, Meridia.

Public Citizen has been assessing the quality and efficacy of drugs and devices since its founding in 1971. When we feel that the information provided to doctors or patients is misleading, insufficient, or just plain wrong, we do not hesitate to express an opinion. Our book Worst Pills, Best Pills, our monthly print newsletter and our Web site WorstPills.org have been at the forefront of the provision of information to patients. We also use the law, petitions, and letters to monitor the FDA and coax the agency into action. Our actions have contributed to 23 drugs being pulled off the market. Public Citizen has also been instrumental in getting “black box” and other warnings on drugs and devices.

Drugs

Drug projects
Drug policy issues

Devices

Device projects
Device policy issues

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplement projects
Dietary supplement policy issues

Copyright © 2016 Public Citizen. Some rights reserved. Non-commercial use of text and images in which Public Citizen holds the copyright is permitted, with attribution, under the terms and conditions of a Creative Commons License. This Web site is shared by Public Citizen Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation. Learn More about the distinction between these two components of Public Citizen.


Public Citizen, Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation

 

You can support the fight for greater government and corporate accountability through a donation to either Public Citizen, Inc., or Public Citizen Foundation, Inc.

Public Citizen lobbies Congress and federal agencies to advance Public Citizen’s mission of advancing government and corporate accountability. When you make a contribution to Public Citizen, you become a member of Public Citizen, showing your support and entitling you to benefits such as Public Citizen News. Contributions to Public Citizen are not tax-deductible.

Public Citizen Foundation focuses on research, public education, and litigation in support of our mission. By law, the Foundation can engage in only very limited lobbying. Contributions to Public Citizen Foundation are tax-deductible.