Herbal Supplements: Precautions and Safe Use.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies herbal preparations as food supplements. New herbal supplements and products are not governed by the strict FDA drug approval process and there is no premarket approval required. The FDA prohibits manufacturers and distributors from marketing adulterated or misbranded products but does not rigorously define safe practices.

Teamwork and Oral Health in Diabetes Care.

Background: The integration of oral health into primary care is often limited, despite its significant connection with many diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM).

Objective: This project aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate an oral health education program for medical assistants (MAs) to increase oral health knowledge and enhance practice using standardized oral health screening questions for patients with DM.

Methods: A nurse practitioner-led oral health program was implemented.

Food and Drug Administration Drug Approval Process: A History and Overview.

In this article, the processing of investigational and new drug applications is described and the standard and expedited review processes are examined. The efforts of the US Food and Drug Administration to ensure greater agency transparency and fiscal responsibility and intensify oversight during the drug development and approval process are reviewed. Often attributed to a decrease in the number of uninsured adults, both the increase in prescription drug sales and the high costs associated with bringing a new drug to market highlight the necessity for a streamlined and cost-effective process to deliver these drugs safely and effectively.