Mission: Prescription drugs are a part of everyday life for millions of Americans who spent in excess of $329 billion on these medicines in 2013, an increase of 3.2% over the previous year. The pharmaceutical industry spent $3.8 billion in marketing these medications to doctors and consumers. Do they have short or long term side effects? Are there alternative solutions that may be just as effective with lower risk?
Guided by a passion to educate and encourage patients to pro-actively inquire about the short and long term side effects of prescription medications before accepting them, MedShadow Foundation seeks to prompt discussion between patient and health care provider. This includes asking deeper questions of the physician or pharmacist, looking at the pros and cons of prescription drugs, and if appropriate, exploring other options. We encourage our readers to avoid blind acceptance of prescription drugs and become an engaged advocate in their own health and wellbeing.
In 2014 MedShadow Foundation Inc. acquired DES Action USA®, a nonprofit advocacy organization that provides information and educational resources to individuals exposed to the harmful drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). DES Action has been the leading advocacy, education and support organization for all who have been affected by DES exposure since 1979. To find our more information about DES, please visit DESAction.org
MedShadow Foundation uses its website and various social media platforms to gather and post timely articles and news about medical conditions, side effects and alternative therapies. While we recognize that medications save lives and that many are absolutely necessary in treating chronic illness and in managing life-and-death situations, we also know that some are over prescribed and that accurate and complete information on side effects is severely lacking. Long-term effects are not studied before FDA approval. We hope to help fill this information void and encourage patients to do a risk/benefit analysis of the medications they are prescribed.
The MedShadow Foundation team consists of concerned consumers and parents, not medical professionals. Please do not substitute what is said on the MedShadow website for what is advised by your doctor or health care provider, particularly when dealing with serious medical issues. Please share your stories and concerns, and let us know about your experiences and victories by posting comments on our stories or sending us notes via our contact page.
An independent 501c3 charitable organization, MedShadow does not accept advertising or contributions from pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies, medical device manufacturers or political action organizations.
Target demographics: prompt discussion between patient and health care provider to pro-actively inquire about the short and long term side effects of prescription medications before accepting them
Direct beneficiaries per year: over 30,000 readers monthly
Geographic areas served: consumer education and advocacy
Programs: our website and various social media platforms to gather and post timely articles and news about medical conditions, side effects and alternative therapies.
I consistently rely on Medshadow, Inc for information about prescriptions that I am researching for my elderly parents' care and for myself. I am a DES Daughter, exposed to DES in utero. Having been medically negatively impacted by this exposure, which was a "medication" prescribed and taken by my mother while she was pregnant with me, by an Army doctor; I am very skeptical about any medication and its risks vs. its benefits. Medshadow is my "Go to" to get information about medications, environmental toxins, etc. The website is up to date and full of helpful information. It helps me make decisions on whether or not a medication's risks is really worth its presumed benefits. It opens conversation between me and my healthcare providers and those of my parents. Thank you, Medshadow!
Among the many newsletters that flood my in box each week, the one that I never fail to open is MedShadow. The editors have an uncanny ability to target the issues I am thinking about (aging parents, GERD, SADD...whatever) and provide concise and balanced reviews of the latest thinking on the topic at hand. I have forwarded the newsletter on to many friends and family members, all of whom also appreciate the work that is being done.
I have conducted marketing research on behalf of MedShadow Foundation and the results prove what an invaluable resource the website provides. Both people whose mothers took DES, and the general public find great utility in the easy-to-search information about what to expect in terms of side effects from all types of drugs.
Now that a family member has been inundated with medicines, the importance of understanding drug interactions is close to home. MedShadow has made me insist that doctors give me details of possible interactions and potential side effects. I feel like a better advocate for my family's health.
I use Med Shadow Foundation for finding the side effects of vitamins and supplements. I am confident in their reports due to the extensive research that is done on the vitamins and supplements. I'm disappointed the side effect information is not on the packages we buy. Manufactures need to be transparent in the side effects on the bottles. Thank you MedShadow Foundation for trying to keep use all safe and informed!
julieliv29
General Member of the Public
10/04/2016
Rating: 5
10/04/2016
I have taken meds for GERD for years not fully understanding what the side effects or long term effects of those meds. MedShadow has become a critical resource for me. The site is overflowing with information on the side effects of medicine, all kinds of medicine. It has literally opened my eyes and helped me to better understand how the medicines I take are affecting me on a deeper level. As a result, I'm now working toward living a healthier lifestyle and getting off of those medications.
There are a lot of websites out there that talk about health and wellness, but MedShadow is different from them. They focus mostly on the side effects of drugs, something that isn't discussed often enough among doctors, even though they affect many people. You can learn a lot about the benefits and risks of many commonly taken drugs, including what to look out for, allowing you to become more informed about your health. They also publish blogs which are well written and often cover topics I haven't seen anywhere else.
Easy to find info. Clear and to the point. Includes medication and supplement information. Importantly, reviews the interaction between drugs and supplements. A "GO TO" site.
Ms. Robotti and her dedicated team at MedShadow are doing some amazing and critically important work that benefits everyone.
They are delivering an objective focus on critical areas of the pharmaceutical world that NO ONE ELSE is doing. I'm sure the majority of individuals either currently take a prescription drug or have in the very recent past.
Yet, I'm even more certain that the percentage of those individuals who have made the time to EVEN TRY TO find the types of critical information that the team at MedShadow present in a clear, concise and accurate fashion is a fraction of those actually taking the medicines.
Personally, as someone with both ADHD and a diagnosis for Bi-Polar, I have significantly benefited twice within the last six months, from the specific, comprehensive and easy to understand information presented by the MedShadow Foundation.
I have no doubt that any philanthropic funds invested into their work will provide society at-large and hundreds (if not thousands) of individuals with vital the information that can make a significant, timely and permanent positive impact in their health and lives.
