Freely available, Drug and Alternative Medicine Databases and Monograph Collections

Warning: Although all of these sites include freely available content many of these sites sell advertising space, and a few provide shopping and subscription "opportunities."

DrugBank -- professional level information
http://redpoll.pharmacy.ualberta.ca/drugbank/

• lists alternate names for each drug
• provides each drug's formula, 2-D structural diagram, and rotatable 3-D structural diagram
• provides each drug's PubChem, CAS Registry, KEGG Compound, etc. numbers
• lists physical properties of each drug
• provides links to clinical information and the FDA label for each drug
• provides the protein sequence of the drug's target and information about the target's function
• provides drug target SNPs

Drugs.com -- professional and consumer level information
http://www.drugs.com

• consumer information sheets in English and Spanish and "advanced consumer information." Information is from MedFacts, Cerner Multum, PDR, and MICROMEDEX
• consumer level, disease information sheets
• heavily referenced professional level monographs
• drug interactions checker.
• drug image database searchable by drug name (limited number of drugs included)
• pill identifier, searchable by imprint code and color and shape of pill (limited number of drugs included)
• medical encyclopedia and dictionary

DrugFacts -- professional level information
http://www.factsandcomparisons.com/

• "Interaction Alert" from Facts & Comparisons
• "Drug News" including news concerning the FDA, new drug approvals, changes in drug information, and immunization recommendations.
• most resources linked to this site are accessible to fee-paying subscribers only.

InteliHealth -- professional and consumer level
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8124/8124.html

• patient information sheets obtained from ASHP.
• "Index of Herbal Medicines and Supplements" includes herb and supplement monographs. References are provided and are relatively current.

LactMed -- professional and consumer level
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT

• first available in April 2006, this resource initially included information on 450 drugs
• available information includes drug levels in breast milk, blood levels in breastfed infants, alternate drugs that might be used during breastfeeding, etc.
• developed by a pharmacist who is an expert in the subject of drug use during lactation and reviewed by three other recognized authorities who serve as the database's scientific review panel
• information provided is referenced

MedlinePlus Drug Information -- consumer level
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

• Consumer level drug monographs from ASHP's MedMaster .

Medscape DrugInfo -- professional and consumer level
http://www.medscape.com/druginfo

• drug monograph database based on information from First DataBank, ASHP, and FDA's Drug Alert service. Complete bibliographic information for cited works is provided in linked pop-up boxes.
• patient handouts from First DataBank.
• Medscape requires free registration.

RxList.com -- professional and consumer level
http://www.rxlist.com

• professional-level drug monographs
• a few consumer-oriented, alternative medicine information sheets-- click on "Alternative Medicines" link to the right of the search box.
• patient information sheets for many drugs. Search for the drug of interest, click on the link to the professional-level monograph, and then look in the left-hand margin for the link to "Patient Information."
• imprint code and NDC code searches through the "Pill Identifier" screen.
• access to an online dictionary of medical terms and abbreviations .

Rxmed -- professional level
http://www.rxmed.com/

• a browsable collection of pharmaceutical monographs that includes information on some prescription and nonprescription drugs, formulas, ointments, etc.
• a browsable collection of herbal medicine and dietary supplement monographs.
• a collection of disease information sheets is also available.

WebMD -- consumer level
http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/drug_and_herb/default.htm

• consumer level, drug information sheets (from First DataBank)
• drug news
• disease information
• other consumer-targeted services.