Understanding Clinical Trials: Safety and Monitoring

Question
i recently talked to a college student who told me he pays some of his expenses by taking part in (compensated) clinical studies. I asked if he was worried about the side effects of the drugs under study, and he said, "no, I just throw them away."

Don't the people running the studies have some way of telling if the subjects are actually taking the drugs or not?

thanks

Jo

Answer
Hi Jo,
Yes, there should be some kind of monitoring device in place. More importantly, he should be turned in so he can be dropped from the study. Think of the ramifications of this behavior if you or some one you love are started on a drug based on this study's results!!!!!!