Clinical Reference: Drug Information
Selecting a Resource for your Drug Information Question
What resource should I begin with? It depends upon the type of question. This table identifies specific resources, as starting points, to answer common question types (listed alphabetically).
| Question Type | First Choices | Next Choices |
|---|---|---|
|
Adverse effects |
Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs (print book), AHFS Drug Information |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access), UpToDate |
|
Bioequivalency |
||
|
Chemical Data |
Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Clinical Trials |
||
|
Comparative Information |
AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Contraindications |
AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
Manufacturers’ websites, NLM Drug Information Portal, PubMed |
|
Cost |
(Note: Red Book is no longer available) |
Commercial web sites such as GoodRX.com †, contacting Manufacturer(s) |
|
Disease state information |
Stat!Ref, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access), VisualDX |
|
|
Dosage Recommendations |
AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
DailyMed, Manufacturers’ websites |
|
Drug administration |
AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
Manufacturers’ websites, NLM Drug Information Portal |
|
Drug interactions (drug-drug, drug-food, drug-lab tests, drug-disease, etc.) |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
| Drugs for HIV/AIDS | ClinicalInfo.HIV.gov Drug Database | Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
Drugs in pregnancy and lactation |
Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation (Briggs), (Briggs also available via Facts & Comparisons), LactMed, Medications and Mothers' Milk |
|
|
Herbal, natural & homeopathic products, dietary supplements |
MEDLINEPlus, Embase, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access), product websites |
|
|
Identification (foreign) |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Identification (domestic) |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access), NLM Pillbox |
product websites (see How Supplied section of package insert) |
|
Immunization schedules |
||
|
Industry |
BCC Research, Nexis Uni (contains Pink Sheet, MedTech Insight, In Vivo, Scrip Intelligence) |
|
|
IV compatibility |
Interactive Handbook on Injectable Drugs (includes Trissel's), Pediatric Injectable Drugs: The Teddy Bear Book |
Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
Manufacturer’s contact information |
Manufacturers' websites |
|
|
Non-proprietary and Proprietary Names |
AHFS Drug Information, Drugs@FDA, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Nursing considerations |
||
|
Over-the-counter products |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
Product websites |
|
Patient counseling/education |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Pharmacokinetics |
AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Pharmacology |
AHFS Drug Information, Access Pharmacy, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
Embase, product websites, NLM Drug Information Portal |
|
Regulatory/legal information |
||
|
Therapeutic use (approved indications) |
AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Therapeutic use (off-label uses) |
AHFS Drug Information, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Toxicology/poisoning |
Facts & Comparisons, Micromedex (contact for password-protected access) |
|
|
Current news |
News websites |
†Commercial website, use for informational purposes only.
Table adapted from the University of Washington Health Sciences Library; reused and revised with permission.
Apps / Mobile Databases
mobileMicromedex is available for free to UNC-CH students, faculty, and staff. You must be on campus to register but may be off campus when using your device. Instructions for registering are at Mobile Instructions.
The UpToDate app is also available for Android, iPhone and Windows. Instructions for registering are at Mobile Instructions.
A list of additional apps and mobile resources is in the Mobile Health & Research Apps guide.
Natural Medicines, Supplements, and Herbals
-
Natural MedicinesEvidence-based information about complementary and alternative therapies including herbal remedies and supplements, with validated rating scales and grades to quickly evaluate quality; comprehensive monographs designed to facilitate clinical decision making. Includes content drawn from the former Natural Standard and Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits available.
Contact Rebecca
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Looking for IPA?
The University Libraries no longer subscribes to International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), but you can search Scopus to find most of the journals in IPA.