Medications
Professional Resource Brief
- American Association of Poison Control Centers. The national Poison Help hotline, 1-800-222-1222 is available 24/7/365, at no cost, connecting callers to their local poison control center anywhere in the United States and territories. An interactive online tool, poisonhelp.org, provides quick, expertly vetted answers to questions about poisoning.
- MotherToBaby. For questions about exposures to medications, herbal products, infections, vaccines, illicit substances, pesticides, and other common exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Toll-free telephone: (866) 626-6847, text to 855-999-3525 (standard messaging rates may apply), and an online chat forum, Chat Live With An Expert. (English or Spanish).
- Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT). MAT is a dedicated search engine that allows users to search for financial assistance resources available through the various biopharmaceutical industry programs available for patients who are eligible. Formerly the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), MATS builds upon a service that provides a single point of access to hundreds of public and private assistance programs, as well as connecting them with more transparent information about the cost of medicine. PPA, now the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), irepresents several pharmaceutical research companies.
- RxAssist: Patient Assistance Program Center. Information about free or low-cost medicine programs and ways to manage medication
costs. Includes contact information for patient-assistance programs and statewide
drug-assistance programs. RxAssist is part of the Center for Primary Care and Prevention at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.
- Note: Prescription assistance may also be available from your local government emergency services or health services program.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Antibiotic Prescribing and Use. Information for health professionals, families, and the media about appropriate antibiotic use, antibiotic resistance, and how to feel better when sick with a viral infection. Some materials are available in Spanish.
Medication Safety Program. Information about surveillance activities for adverse drug events and efforts to translate population-based surveillance data into evidence-based policies and interventions. Includes journal articles for professionals and fact sheets, audio and video clips, and a blog for families. Topics include adverse drug events in children and antibiotic resistance.
Medications and Pregnancy. Statistics, research information, articles, and links to additional information about medication use in pregnancy.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Information for consumers, health professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry about drug development, approvals, safety, availability, regulations, and emergency preparedness. Resources include
BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy. Information about fake online pharmacies, the risks of purchasing from them, and how to find one that's safe and legal.
Information for Health Care Professionals | Drugs. Information for health professionals about drug recalls, drug shortages, safety and availability. Includes a search feature to find additional resources.
Medicines in My Home. A multimedia educational program for teachers, students, and adults about how to choose over-the-counter medicines and use them safely.
¡Nunca Más! Novela Health Series. Four Spanish-language video novelas with information about the dangers of medication misuse and using medicines wisely.
Pregnancy Exposure Registries. Information for health professionals and pregnant women about studies that collect health information from women who take medicines or vaccines when they are pregnant and breastfeeding.
Medication Safety for Women. Tips about safely using prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Includes a medicine recordkeeper in English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, and 10 Asian and Pacific Islander languages; medication booklets; and fact sheets on topics such as medicines and pregnancy.
- MotherToBaby. Research information and fact sheets in English and Spanish about exposures to medications, herbal products, infections and vaccines, maternal medical conditions, illicit substances, and other common exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Also see the MotherToBaby helpline. (formerly Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS)).
- NeedyMeds/beMedWise. Information for consumers and health professionals about safe, appropriate medicine use. (Formerly National Council on Patient Information and Education).
- National Library of Medicine (NLM).
MedlinePlus: Medicines and Children. Information in English and Spanish about the safe use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs for children.
MedlinePlus: Drug Safety. Information in English and Spanish about buying and using prescription and over-the-counter drugs safely.
MedlinePlus: Drugs, Supplements and Herbal Information. Information in English and Spanish about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies.
Related MCH Digital Library Resources
- Asthma in Children and Adolescents professional resource guide, family resource brief, school resource brief
- Breastfeeding resource brief
- Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs professional resource guide, family resource brief, school resource brief
- Diabetes in Children and Adolescents professional resource guide, family resource brief, school resource brief
- Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Challenges in Children and Adolescents professional resource guide, family resource brief, school resource brief
- Health Insurance and Access to Care for Children and Adolescents professional resource guide, family resource brief
- Preconception and Pregnancy professional resource guide, family resource brief
Medications: Resource Brief, 2nd ed. January 2012. Updated: December 2014, April 2020, November 2024.
Author: Susan Brune Lorenzo, M.L.S., MCH Digital Library.
Reviewer: Olivia Pickett, M.A., M.L.S., MCH Digital Library.
Editor: Ruth Barzel, M.A., MCH Digital Library.