Drug Information

The same software may be available from more than one vendor

Canadian Medical Association
The CMA website gives members access to the online drug databases from Lexi-Comp; It also offers discounts on PDA drug databases from Lexi-Comp, Skyscape and Pepid

Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS)
Produced by the Canadian Pharmacists Association; Therapeutic Choices (e-Therapeutics): PDA version now available

Drug Databases – Comprehensive

Lexi-Comp (recommended)
Most Canadian brand names are included; Lexi-Comp offers several drug-related products, including Lexi-Drugs, Lexi-Interact and Lexi-Natural Products

AHFS Drug Handbook
Created by the American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) of the American Society of Hospital-System Pharmacists (ASHP); Version is available for desktop computers
Skyscape

Drug Databases – Quick-Reference

Tarascon Pharmacopoeia
An inexpensive, basic drug reference that includes a drug-interaction analyzer, alternative medicine database and clinical calculator; Canadian brand names are limited

DrDrugs
Canadian brand names are limited
Skyscape

A to Z Drug Facts
Canadian brand names are limited
Skyscape
Handheldmed
Unbound Medicine

Pepid Drug Companion
Canadian brand names and limited;
Integrated with Pepid Clinical Suites for Emergency Physicians, Primary Care Physicians, Nurses & Medical Students

ePocrates
Canadian brand names are limited (user report, previously none); Includes a drug interaction checker; Reports usage to vendor; Free and commercial versions available

Drug Databases – Other

AHFS DI Essentials
Source: American Hospital Formulary Services
Skyscape

AHFS Dosing Companion
Source: American Hospital Formulary Services
Skyscape

Ident-A-Drug Reference
Skyscape

Handbook of Applied Therapeutics (7/e)
Skyscape

MobileMicromedex
Drug and drug interaction information; Institutional subscription required

Mosby's Drug Consult
Includes 75 herbal monographs
Skyscape
MD Consult (part of Pocket Consult – some users experience problems with the MobiPocket reader program)

Physician's Drug Handbook
Drug and drug interaction information
Handheldmed

Drug Interactions

Lexi-Interact
Drug interaction analyzer

Tarascon Pharmacopoeia
Basic program includes a drug-interaction analyzer

ePocrates
The free version includes a drug interaction analyzer; No Canadian brand names; Reports usage to vendor; Palm OS only

Pepid Drug Interactions Generator
Drug interaction analyzer; Integrated with clinical suites for Emergency Physicians, Primary Care Physicians, Nurses & Medical Students

Medical Letter Handbook of Adverse Drug Interactions
Drug interaction information
Skyscape

Drug Interaction Facts
Drug interaction analyzer
Skyscape

Drug Interaction Facts – Herbal Supplements & Food
Drug interaction information
Skyscape

Alternative Medicine

Lexi – Natural Products
Alternative medicine information; Integrated with Lexi-Drugs

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database
A highly rated resource; Integrated with other Skyscape products
Skyscape

Natural Standards
Alternative medicine information; Integrated with other Skyscape products
HandheldMed

Guide to Popular Natural Products
Alternative medicine information; Integrated with other Skyscape products
Skyscape

Drug Interaction Facts – Herbal Supplements & Foods
Drug and alternative medicine interaction database; Integrated with other Skyscape products
Skyscape

Nursing

Lexi-Drugs – Nursing

A supplement to Lexi-Drugs

Drugs In Pregnancy & Lactation

Drug effects on pregnant and nursing mothers
Skyscape

Nursing I.V. Drug Handbook

Intravenous drug information
Skyscape

King Guide To Parenteral Admixtures
Intravenous drug information

Obstetrics & Pediatrics

Drugs In Pregnancy & Lactation

Drug effects on pregnant and nursing mothers
Skyscape

Lexi-Drugs – Pediatric
A supplement to Lexi-Drugs; Includes neonatal drug doses

Psychiatry

Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Skyscape

Pharmacists & Pharmacology

Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (Goodman & Gilman (10th edition, 2001)
Textbook of Pharmacology
www.goodmanandgilman.com
www.accessmedicine.com

Journal of Informed Pharmacotherapy
Several PDA-related articles

References

Dalhousie University – Drug Reference Recommendations
Recommends DrDrugs & Lexi-Drugs; Some information about ePocrates & Pepid

Personal digital assistant-based drug reference software tools
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, July 2005, pages 07-18
PubMed ID: 16003287
Pepid – Full text

Evaluation of personal digital assistant software for drug interactions
American Journal of Health System Pharmacy, February 15, 2004, pages 380-385
PubMed ID: 15011766

PDAs – The Whole World In Your Hands
Cameron, S; Canadian Journal of CME, November 2003, page 143; Brief descriptions of drug software

Palm Reading 2 – Handheld Software For Physicians 
CMAJ, March 18, 2003, 168 (6), pages 727-734; Brief descriptions of drug software

Drug handbooks for personal digital assistants (PDAs)
Journal of the Medical Library Association, 90(4), October 2002, page 489; Reviews older software versions

Drug Information Software for Palm OS PDAs
Pharmacotherapy; 2002 August, 22(8), pages 1036-40;
Reviews older software versions
PubMed ID: 12173788

Clinical Use of a Palmtop Drug Reference Guide
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, May-June 2002; A survey of ePocrates users
PubMed ID: 11971883

Drug databases for users of hand-held computers
Cameron, S; Canadian Family Physician, April 2002, page 752;
Reviews older software versions