This searchable online database (http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/about.cfm) offers a targeted amount of drug information including approved National Drug Codes (NDCs), drug class, animal drugs, and “black box” warnings. Data are accurate, factual, and updated daily. Coverage is based on specific information taken from official FDA-approved package inserts. The site notes that “the drug labeling on this Web site may not be the labeling on currently distributed products or identical to the labeling that is approved.” DailyMed provides informative tables and charts, and links to additional NLM/FDA references. Positive attributes include visible contact and adverse-event reporting information, virtual tours, tips for site use, and rapid page loading. This database offers current, reliable package-insert information to health information providers and the public, with an interface for each audience. Differences between these interfaces appear minimal. Automatic term mapping assists with misspellings. Expandable sections ease navigation to individual monograph sections in an aesthetically appealing fashion. DailyMed is notable for offering advanced searching, including searching by drug class, chemical structures, and active and inactive ingredients. Printing and downloading capabilities are enabled. Additional resources include links to reputable sources such as DrugBank (http://www.drugbank.ca/) for biochemical data, and Pillbox (http://pillbox.nlm.nih.gov/pillimage/search.php) for interactive drug identification. Notably, an interactive drug-interaction checker is absent.
Recommended for health care providers and health sciences students looking for reliable package insert information, NDCs, or medical suppliers. Content may be overly complex for consumers and others without significant health literacy.