Drugs
It’s still not at all clear to me what makes a “drug” a drug and food, food - Sean Illing
image by: Randox Toxicology
HWN Recommends
The Wonder Drug Myth
In the past 50 years, modern pharmacology has created dozens of treatments that improve and save lives. Cardiovascular drugs like beta- blockers have drastically reduced deaths from heart attacks and heart disease. For every million people who take a statin drug for high cholesterol, there are 50,000 fewer angioplasties, surgeries, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths, studies have shown. And in the past 15 years, drugs have transformed AIDS from a death sentence into a managed disease. These are just some of the triumphs of pharmacology, and each case is a bona fide miracle, a life transformed.
Resources
DailyMed
This Web site provides health information providers and the public with a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date, look-up and download resource of medication content and labeling as found in medication package inserts.
Drug Info
Search for a drug by name or NDC number and get complete drug information. It's like the printout attached to your refill—only electronic.
Pill Identifier
Use the pill finder to identify medications by visual appearance or name. All Rx and OTC drugs in the US are required by the FDA to have an imprint. If your pill has no imprint it could be a vitamin, diet/herbal/energy pill, illicit or foreign drug.
KnowYourDose.org
The Know Your Dose campaign educates consumers on how to safely and appropriately use medicines that contain acetaminophen to avoid an unintentional overdose. By reaching consumers when medicine safety is top of mind through points of care, such as a pharmacy or healthcare provider’s office, points of purchase at retail pharmacies, and online on health sites, the campaign seeks to raise awareness and promotes four simple steps for safe acetaminophen use...
Fake drugs: The global industry putting your life at risk
This is a story of how the manufacture and distribution of medicines today is such a complex, globalised affair that it is often hard to track where fake or substandard medicines come from and where they go. This is a story of how these medicines could make you ill or even kill you, even if you don't take them.
The diseases that are driving up American drug spending
Treatment for common inflammatory conditions, including arthritis and Crohn’s disease, are dominated by expensive biologic drugs. Most are patent-protected for some time to come, or are years away from facing competition from biosimilars (i.e., drugs with minor chemical differences that have the same effect).
The Quant King, the Drug Hunter, and the Quest to Unlock New Cures
A billionaire and his very powerful computer are helping a pharma pioneer find the drugs of tomorrow.
This Drug Is Safe and Effective. Wait. Compared With What?
Comparative effectiveness research may be the best way to answer questions that patients and physicians face every day.
A User's Guide to Drug Apps
From validating your parking to validating your love life, it’s easy to say there’s an app for everything. But could scoring drugs (or a drug buddy) be as convenient as ordering take out? The blossoming weed industry argues that it should be. Here is a guide (and a Los Angeles-based user's commentary) to the apps that might make your life as a recreational drug user easier, more interesting, and definitely more tech savvy.
Are Your Medications Safe?
The FDA buries evidence of fraud in medical trials. My students and I dug it up.
Beta Blockers Were a Miracle Cure for My Stage Fright
Then they took over my life.
Big Pharma, Little Movies
Big Pharma – oh, how we love to hate you. The corporate behemoth that is the pharmaceutical industry has morphed into a gargantuan force in American politics and business yielding immense power.
Drugs - Who's Minding The Store?
The most common adverse drug reactions are the effects from the drug itself - a virtual double-edged sword!
Many Commonly Used Drugs Are Useless
Some medications are life saving. I am so thankful for the trusty med that tames my atrial fibrillation. Many meds are helpful — demonstrating superiority to placebo in ways that are clearly clinically significant and life enhancing. But many (perhaps most) drugs are probably no more than very expensive placebos.
Prescription Overkill: Are Americans Taking Too Many Pills?
Americans take pills for everything including increased energy, weight loss, pain and medical conditions. Roughly 59-percent of Americans, or 3 in 5, are taking a prescription of some kind. It is also estimated that roughly 15-percent of the population takes more than five prescriptions daily.
Scientists Identify Drugs' Side Effects by Analyzing Search Data Collected From Millions of Users
A team of researchers has for the first time found a side effect of a common drug combination by looking at search queries.
The Healing Power of Venom
Scientists are turning toxins from scorpions, snakes and spiders into treatments for diseases including diabetes and cancer.
Why Not Get Your Drugs at the Barbershop?
Barbers used to perform surgery on their clients—they could certainly dole out medication today.
Could the coronavirus spark drug shortages in the US?
The outbreak is exposing vulnerabilities in how America gets its drugs, but potential backlogs really depend on the course of the virus.
Human Drugs Are Polluting the Water—And Animals Are Swimming in It
Waterways can contain traces of many drugs—among them antifungals, antimicrobials, and antibacterials, as well as ones for pain, fertility, mood, sleeplessness, and neurodegenerative diseases. If current trends persist, scientists estimate, the volume of pharmaceuticals diffusing into fresh water could increase by two-thirds by 2050.
Pandemic Lays Bare U.S. Reliance on China for Drugs
Acetaminophen, antibiotics and high blood pressure treatments are among a slew of pharmaceutical ingredients made predominantly by China. Disruptions and high demand have expanded concerns about the supply of medicines.
Why are drug names so long and complicated? A pharmacist explains the logic behind the nomenclature
Some wonder why they were prescribed the medication in the first place, or need help differentiating between drugs with names that seem like complete gibberish. But there is a rhyme and a reason to drug names. All prescribed medications follow a standard nomenclature that describes what the drug is made of and how it functions.
Women healers who were persecuted as witches left a rich legacy for modern medicine
Over the years, modern Western medicine has taken many remedies from all kinds of alternative forms of medicine, including witchcraft, according to Smithsonian. Witches used willow bark to treat inflammation; the compound used in aspirin today was developed based on a precursor chemical found in the willow tree.
Should You Drug Your Way to a Better Life?
As medical science advances, the development of new drugs, along with increased understanding of oldies but goodies, "just say 'no'" will become ever more dubious advice. But what answers can we find in the world of drugs?
The Drugging of Generation Rx
Prescription drugs bring relief from illness and pain but they come with a price...drug dependence and even death. Can we turn it around?
Watch: Eat, drink, but be wary — 4 foods that interact with medications
Grapefruit, kale — foods like these have health benefits. But if paired with certain medications, the good stuff we eat can spike our blood pressure, dull our motor skills, cause an overdose, or worse.
The Wonder Drug Myth
Even the pharmaceutical industry's best products are imperfect, working in only half—or fewer—patients. It's time for better targeting.
Drug Discovery News
There is no other publication in our market that covers news specific to pharmaceutical drug discovery. Thus, you can always rely on Drug Discovery News, as well as our content-rich Web site, as your source for news about the drug discovery and development industry.
Drug Discovery Online
Are you searching for resources to aid in biomarker identification? Interested in learning about methods for neutralizing antibodies? Want to investigate how to use RNAi to expedite drug development?
Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA Network) is the nation's leading organization promoting policy alternatives to the drug war that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.
Drug Store News
Drug Store News has been the voice of the retail drug industry for over seven decades. Forty thousand industry professionals read this publication for its timely coverage of industry news, merchandising trends and pharmacy developments.
Drug Topics
Monthly news magazine reports on all phases of pharmacy for community & health-system pharmacists, HMO & consultant pharmacists
DrugBank
The DrugBank database is a unique bioinformatics and cheminformatics resource that combines detailed drug data with comprehensive drug target information.
DrugLib.com
DrugLib.com is a comprehensive drug database organized by relevance to specific drugs. It provides a convenient, one-stop access to a wide range of information related to your drug of interest, including drug label & prescribing information (description, clinical pharmacology, side-effects, indications, warnings, etc.), published studies, current clinical trials, alerts and news.
Drugs.com
Drug information, side effects, interactions
DrugWatch
DrugWatch.com is a comprehensive Web site database featuring extensive information about thousands of different medications and drugs currently on the market or previously available worldwide. DrugWatch.com includes up-to-date information about prescription and over-the-counter medications and includes details about associated side effects to aid in the protection of patients and consumers.
MedActionPlan
MedActionPlan.com provides a family of powerful, web-based applications that allow healthcare providers to create personalized treatment plans for the patient.
MedicationSense.com
Your independent, respected source for information about medications and natural therapies.
RxAssist
Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place.
RxHope
RxHope is exactly what its name implies...a helping hand to people in need in obtaining critical medications that they would normally have trouble affording. We act as your advocate in making the patient assistance program journey easier and faster by supplying vital information and help.
RxList
RxList is an online medical resource dedicated to offering detailed and current pharmaceutical information on brand and generic drugs.
RxMed
The comprehensive resource for physicians, drug and illness information.
Ask a Patient
There is more to know than what the ads say. Learn from the experience of real people who have taken drug treatments. Share your side effects or success stories. Take control of your health by being informed and asking questions. AskaPatient.com provides tools for the empowered patient.
British National Formulary
The BNF and BNF for Children provide UK healthcare professionals with authoritative and practical information on the selection and clinical use of medicines in a clear, concise and accessible manner.
ConsumerLab.com
Vitamins, herbs, and other supplements are not regularly tested by any government organization. Only ConsumerLab.com continually evaluates nutritional supplements in a laboratory environment. It also investigates problems with drugs.
CredibleMeds
Since its initial launch in 1999, CredibleMeds® has developed educational and research programs providing resources for medical professionals, researchers and consumers. Most notably, CredibleMeds® has built and applied a novel, systems-based approach to reduce harm from medications and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) – with a special focus on drugs that prolong the QT interval on the patient’s electrocardiogram and thereby increase the risk of torsades de pointes (TdP), a heart arrhythmia that can cause sudden cardiac death.
eHealthme
People use eHealthMe to find out what patients like me (same gender, age, conditions) reported their drugs on FDA and social media.
Epocrates
Provide improved patient care with Epocrates Online - a free, fast, and effective way to find clinical information at the point of care.
European Medicines Agency
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU), located in London. It began operating in 1995. The Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU.
FDA
Information about products we regulate
FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
FAERS is a database that contains information on adverse event and medication error reports submitted to FDA. The database is designed to support the FDA's post-marketing safety surveillance program for drug and therapeutic biologic products. The informatic structure of the FAERS database adheres to the international safety reporting guidance issued by the International Conference on Harmonisation. Adverse events and medication errors are coded to terms in the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities terminology.
In The Pipeline
Derek Lowe's commentary on drug discovery and the pharma industry. An editorially independent blog from the publishers of Science Translational Medicine.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), based in suburban Philadelphia, is the nation''s only 501c (3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use. ISMP represents over 30 years of experience in helping healthcare practitioners keep patients safe, and continues to lead efforts to improve the medication use process.
Iodine
Wondering what to expect from your medication? We‘re here to help. Iodine combines pharmacist expertise, FDA data, and real life experience from more than 100,000 people like you to create a new kind of medical resource. Let us know what you think
MPR
To provide medical professionals with the most up-to-date prescribing information in a concise, user-friendly format. The PRI database has been assembled and edited by an experienced staff of pharmacists utilizing information available from manufacturers, official compendia and medical/pharmaceutical references.
Orange Book
To provide timely consumer information on generic drugs, the Electronic Orange Book is updated daily as new generic approvals occur.
PDR
From the publishers of the Physicians’ Desk Reference — the leading drug resource for over 65 years.
Pocket Pharmacist
Drug information, interaction checker, and medication organizer.
Recall Guide
Recall Guide is the most effective, easiest to use medication tracking platform on the market. Best of all, it's free! Keep track of your medications, and learn about important recalls and prescription information that may directly affect you. Our goal is to supply important and helpful information about your prescriptions. We do this by leveraging an active community of users and by sharing important updates about the safety of specific drugs.
SafeMedication
SafeMedication.com features complete, easy-to-read information on more than 800 drugs. It is based on ASHP's premier, unbiased drug information resources.
The People's Pharmacy
In 1976, when The People's Pharmacy® was originally published, it was one of the first books providing drug and health information to consumers. It went on to become a number one bestseller.
US Recall News
US Recall News is not associated with any government agency. We provide what information we can relating to recalled products in the United States, but our list of recalls may not be all-inclusive. While we endeavor to stay up-to-date with all of the latest recalls, your best bet is always to contact the appropriate organization in charge of the recalls...
WorstPills.org
Our doctors and pharmacists analyze the FDA's own data so you get the second opinion YOU need
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
Improving antimicrobial policy and clinical practice worldwide.
Antibiotics
Antibiotic guide
Bugs and Drugs on the Web
This site has been developed in response to current concern about antimicrobial resistance and provides information for the public to promote appropriate use of antimicrobials.
EMRA Antibiotic Guide
The EMRA ABx Guide is a necessity for any health care professional who rotates in the emergency department. Find antibiotics based on organ system, diagnosis, or organism. Virtually every type of infectious disease is covered for outpatient management and for patients needing admission. Includes everything you've come to love about EMRA's printed guide, but with the ability to search. Epocrates Rx
FDA Approved Drugs
With more than 4,000 new investigational treatments in more than 800 disease conditions worldwide, this database is ideal for clinical trials industry professionals.
Handbook of Natural Medicine
Written by leading authorities in complementary and integrative medicine, this convenient, quick-reference handbook provides clear and rational directives on diagnosing and treating specific diseases and disorders with natural medicine.
Psych Medications
The information for most of these drugs are from Canadian monographs. There are often significant differences in indications, dosage forms and warnings for the drugs in other countries.
Air Care Medications
List for emergency care in flight.
BeMedWise
The BeMedWise Program at NeedyMed’s mission is working to promote the wise use of medicines through trusted communication for better health.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
