GoToPills

Why GoToPills Was Created:

I was inspired to create GoToPills after a client came to my office suffering from kidney damage after taking a prescription drug for migraines. However, the medication was only FDA-approved for seizures.

My research revealed that that once a prescription medication receives FDA-approval for a particular reason, age, duration, and gender it can be legally prescribed by a doctor for a completely different application or patient population that has not been tested for safety or efficacy. These drugs are called off-label and they comprise almost 80% of prescribed medications and there is no requirement that you be informed that the medication you or a family member is taking is off-label.

The Harm Caused by Off-Label Medications:

The health and liability risks associated with off-label drugs are substantial. Since 2009 over 14 billion dollars have been paid in off-label drug settlements and that number is growing. By prescribing and dispensing off-label drugs physicians and pharmacists open themselves to liability and patients taking these drugs become test subjects without their knowledge or consent. In many cases off-label medications can be beneficial however it is the lack of information that is the problem.

The GoToPills’ Solution:

Since off-label drugs are not FDA-approved, drug companies are not required to disclose off-label information in their prescribing materials. With GoToPills this vital information is instantly provided to end users eliminating countless hours of research. Knowing whether or not a drug is off-label and whether or not there are emerging injuries, complaints, or litigation are crucial pieces of information for patients and healthcare providers. GoToPills delivers this crucial information in a concise format. Armed with this knowledge, patients can truly make informed choices about their medication options.