November 2003

New Web site checks for interactions between
herbal supplements with drugs

You and your patients can now use an online source to check for any potentially harmful combination of herbal supplements, over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs.

The DrugDigest Web site, http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Interaction/ChooseDrugs, provides information on 11,500 potential interactions for more than 5,000 commonly used drugs, over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements, including interactions with food and alcohol.

DrugDigest is a co-operative effort between the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Express Scripts. DrugDigest provides a comprehensive source of noncommercial, evidence-based, consumer-oriented drug information. Staff physicians, licensed doctors of pharmacy from leading academic institutions, and medical editors review DrugDigest materials for accuracy and timeliness.

In addition to the Drug Interaction Checker, the Web site provides a drug comparison tool that allow users to compare and contrast the efficacy of drugs that are either within the same class or used to treat the same conditions; and a Side Effect Comparison tool to view specific side effect information about a given drug or view a side-by-side comparison of side effects for that drug and drugs in the same class. These comparison tools can give users the information they need to work with their health care provider in deciding which medication may best suit their needs.

DrugDigest also includes several insightful clinical offerings: disease care pathways and health risk assessments. Care pathways for diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) help consumers learn about proper management of these conditions and participate in their own care. Health risk assessments for anxiety, depression, osteoporosis, and coronary heart disease allow patients to learn about these conditions and give them the information needed to initiate a conversation with their doctor about their risk for developing these conditions and possible prevention strategies.

Source:Business Wire

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