A recent issue of Consumer Reports magazine had a warning about accepting free samples of medicine from your doctor. The magazine pointed out three potential drawbacks:
- You might not get printed instructions showing possible side effects and precautions.
- The medication won’t be entered into your pharmacist’s database, which screens for harmful interaction or duplication with other drugs you may be taking. Also, you may not be notified of a recall of that medication.
- The drug might not be the best choice for you. Manufacturers typically give doctors samples of the drugs they’re trying to promote — usually the newest and most expensive drugs, not necessarily the most effective drug in that category.
