Internet Sites

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs

Reports that examine and compare prescription and over-the-counter drugs based on effectiveness, a drug's track record, safety, and price. The reports evaluate drugs that are used to treat a specific condition or illness, like high cholesterol or insomnia.  Each report is available in both English and Spanish. Consumer’s Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, strongly encourages consumers to discuss the drug reports with their health care providers.

Drug Information Portal

The Drug Information Portal is a gateway to current and accurate drug information from the National Library of Medicine and other government agencies. More than 12,000 drugs can be searched. The portal covers drugs from the time they are entered into clinical trials (Clinicaltrials.gov) through their entry in the market place (Drugs@FDA). The search box requires only a drug name; you may search by a drug’s trade name or generic name. A spell checker gives suggestions if the name is not found.

DrugDigest

Potential interactions between two or more drugs (and some herbs) can be checked on this Web site. The site also includes consumer information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and images of 6,000 pills and capsules.

MedlinePlus Drug Information

Consumer information on prescription and over-the-counter medications from two sources: the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the United States Pharmacopeia, an independent nonprofit group that sets the standards for U.S. medical products. The site also has links to the Food and Drug Administration information on newly approved prescription drugs, drug recalls, and alerts.

NeedyMeds.com

Many people can't afford their prescription medicines. Many drug manufacturers have Patient Assistance Programs to help those who can't afford their medicines obtain them at no cost or low cost. NeedyMeds provides a directory of these programs. The information is obtained from the drug manufacturers on a regular basis.

Office of Dietary Supplements: Health Information

This Web site has fact sheets on dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbs. Also included are nutrition requirements and general information on dietary supplement use and safety.

RxList

Rxlist.com has drug information for both consumers and health professionals. This Web site allows searching by brand names, generic names, keywords, or drug categories. Special features includes a "fuzzy" search, which assumes the drug name may be misspelled, and an imprint search, which allows searching for the identifying alphanumeric characters printed on tablets and capsules.

Books

maintained by the staff of the Business, Science & Technology Department, State Library Resource Center, Enoch Pratt Free Library