Re: Older drugs often safer than new
Like software, I believe it's smart to let something simmer in the marketplace for a few years before diving into it.
I will say that a new drug that could make a significant difference in my family's lives - like saving them - might be a different story. I am tracking experimental MS drugs very closely, but paying attention to test data and side effects too.
And no, I don't trust the FDA blindly. Nobody should.
Note that drugs are legally required to list ALL side effects, even if only a couple of people have them. When possible, try to look up information on percentages of people who had each side effect for a more realistic picture.