Online Drug Information Searches: What Are the Top Websites in Results from Popular Search Engines?

Worth Checking Out

A study in this month’s Annals of Pharmacotherapy examines the search results for the most commonly dispensed drugs in the US on Bing, Google, and Yahoo. The study found that the first website returned in searches for drug information is likely to be The National Library of Medicine, an industry-sponsored site, or Wikipedia.

The article points out that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone – a fact that most pharmacists may not know. The article refers to a study which found that two-thirds of a group of US pharmacists who use Wikipedia were not aware that anyone can edit the information in Wikipedia entries.

Priority Clinical Practice Guidelines

Today the Institute of Medicine released Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), a consensus report that recommends eight standards to ensure the objective, transparent development of trustworthy guidelines.

To assist our users with locating trustworthy guidelines, two years ago IDIS added Descriptor 168 - Priority Clinical Practice Guideline. In order for an article to be assigned Descriptor 168, the pharmacists at IDIS make an editorial decision to select guidelines that we consider to be of high priority based on several factors, including methodology used for guideline preparation; characteristics of the health condition; potential benefits of guideline implementation; guideline recommendations are presented clearly and graded based on the evidence; and editorial independence of the developer.

Some recent guidelines that were assigned Descriptor 168 are for the following:

Diabetes - IDIS Article 650468

Food Allergy - IDIS Article 649304

Major Depressive Disorder - IDIS Article 645188

Thoracic Aortic Disease - IDIS Article 641177

Ulcerative Colitis - IDIS Article 633321

Omalizumab for Allergic Asthma in Inner-City Children

The News:

MedPage reported this week on a study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine which found that omalizumab in combination with guideline-based treatment for allergic asthma in inner-city children decreases symptoms, reduces exacerbations, lowers the number of hospitalizations, reduces the need for inhaled controller medications, and reduces seasonal exacerbations.

IDIS Related Question:

Find randomized studies that have evaluated the use of omalizumab for allergic asthma in children.

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): Drug(s): "OMALIZUMAB 82000441"

Disease(s): "ASTHMA, EXTRINSIC 493.0"

Descriptor(s): "STUDY RANDOMIZE PEDIATRIC 136

IDIS Results:

IDIS Articles 639150, 629377, 502981, 491975, and 472262

Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated with Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agents Have Increased Risk of Cancer Recurrence and Death

The News:

This month at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists’ Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer MedPage Today reported that data were presented from a study which showed that in ovarian cancer patients treated with erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) cancer recurrence and death occurred significantly more often.

IDIS Related Question:

Locate recent review articles about an increased risk of cancer recurrence in patients with cancer-related anemia treated with ESAs (epoetin or darbepoetin)?

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "EPOETIN 20040002" or "DARBEPOETIN ALFA 20040006"

Disease(s): "ANEMIA, NEOPLASM RELATED 285.22"

Descriptor(s): "SIDE EF NEOPLASM CYST 76" and review

IDIS Results:

IDIS Articles 625024 , 613426, and 610066

Recent Additions to IDIN Answers

The following questions were recently added to IDIN Answers:

Is the use of growth hormone replacement for anti-aging legal?
(IDIN Answer)

Is there data in the literature to support the safe and effective use of human growth hormone (hGH) in multiple myeloma?
(IDIN Answer)

What is the possible role for the new cancer drug eribulin which is derived from the sea sponge?
(IDIN Answer)

What information is available in the literature or treatment guidelines regarding side effects that may be encountered if anticonvulsant medications in the treatment of bipolar disorder are discontinued abruptly?
(IDIN Answer)

Do you have any information regarding use of intramuscular hepatitis B immunoglobulin (Nabi-HB) for post liver transplant patient and any information dose adjustments when giving it to patients receiving dialysis?
(IDIN Answer)

Is there data in the literature to support the use of bortezomib (Velcade) in desensitization protocols prior to heart transplant?
(IDIN Answer)

Is there data in the literature that supports anisocoria as a possible side effect of venlafaxine therapy?
(IDIN Answer)

FDA Approves Belimumab - First New Lupus Drug in 56 Years

The News:

Yesterday the FDA approved belimumab to treat patients with active autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus who are receiving standard therapy. It is the first new lupus drug approved since 1955.

The FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee met on November 16, 2010, and recommended approval of belimumab. Documents related to this Advisory Committee meeting are available in IDIS.

IDIS Related Question:

Locate the meeting materials from the FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee meeting on belimumab.

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "BELIMUMAB 82000498"

Journal: "FDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE"

IDIS Results:

Summary Minutes − IDIS Article 648478

Transcript and Slides − IDIS Article 648477

Questions to the Committee − IDIS Article 648476

Briefing Information from FDA− IDIS Article 648475

Briefing Information from Drug Sponsor (Human Genome Sciences) − IDIS Article 648474

Notice of Meeting − IDIS Article 648473

Intravenous Erythromycin May Eliminate Need for Nasogastric Tubes in Patients with Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Undergoing Endoscopy

The News:

Medscape Today recently reported the results of a study that found that intravenous erythromycin may eliminate the need for nasogastric tubes in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding undergoing endoscopy.

IDIS Related Question:

Before this study, did any other randomized studies evaluate the use of intravenous erythromycin in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding undergoing endoscopy?

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "ERYTHROMYCIN 8121201"

Disease(s): "GASTROSCOPY 44.11" and "HEMORRHAGE, GI NEC 578."

Descriptor(s): "ADM PARENT INTRAVENOUS 66" and "STUDY RANDOMIZE ADULT 135"

IDIS Results:

IDIS articles 56514 and 484261

Regular Use of NSAIDs May Lead to Erectile Dysfunction

The News:

Last week Medscape Today reported the results of a study that found that regular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is associated with erectile dysfunction.

IDIS Related Question:

Locate information about NSAID-induced erectile dysfunction.

IDIS Search:

All Fields: "erectile dysfunction"

Drug(s): 280804*

Descriptor(s): "SIDE EF UROGENITAL 80"

IDIS Results:

Most recent and relevant: IDIS articles 634098 and 554167

Topiramate Taken During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Infant Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate

The News:

On March 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety announcement informing the public of new data that show that there is an increased risk for the development of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (oral clefts) in infants born to women treated with topiramate (Topamax and generic products) during pregnancy.

IDIS Related Question:

Locate information about the risk of birth defects from topiramate if taken during pregnancy.

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "TOPIRAMATE 28122035"

Disease(s): "PREGNANCY NEC V22."

Descriptor(s): "SIDE EF FETAL EFFECT 48"

IDIS Results:

Most recent and relevant: IDIS articles 616429 and 600013

New Warnings Against Use of Terbutaline to Treat Preterm Labor

The News:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued new warnings against the use of terbutaline to treat preterm labor. The FDA is warning that injectable terbutaline should not be used in pregnant women for prevention or prolonged treatment (beyond 48-72 hours) of preterm labor in either the hospital or outpatient setting because of the potential for serious maternal heart problems and death. The agency is requiring the addition of a Boxed Warning and Contraindication to the terbutaline injection label to warn against this use. In addition, oral terbutaline should not be used for prevention or any treatment of preterm labor because it has not been shown to be effective and has similar safety concerns. The agency is requiring the addition of a Boxed Warning and Contraindication to the terbutaline tablet label to warn against this use.

IDIS Related Question:

Are there any recent meta-analyses that evaluated terbutaline for the treatment of preterm labor?

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "TERBUTALINE 12120094"

Disease(s): "DELIVERY, EARLY ONSET 644.2"

Descriptor(s): "META-ANALYSIS 145"

IDIS Results:

IDIS article 615256

Group B Strep Is Still Main Cause of Bacterial Meningitis In Newborns

The News:

Medical News Today reported today the results of a study published this month that concluded that Group B Streptococcus is still the main cause of bacterial meningitis in newborns.

IDIS Related Question:

Are there any practice guidelines about the prevention of group B Streptococcus in neonates?

IDIS Search:

Disease(s): "INFECTION, STREPTOCOCCUS B 041.02" and "NEONATE V39." and "PROPHYLAXIS NEC V07."

Descriptor(s): "PRACTICE GUIDELINE 156"

IDIS Results:

IDIS article 649884

FDA Approval Packages Provide Access to Unbiased Reviews of Published and Unpublished Studies

There is a growing body of evidence which suggests that reporting of clinical trial results is biased (Publication Bias Found Among Trials Submitted To FDA: New Study). One recent study concluded that more than 50% of all trials submitted to the FDA during the drug approval process remain unpublished five years after the drugs are approved (Half Of Trials Supporting FDA Applications Go Unpublished).

With IDIS, you have access to the entire FDA Approval Package for a particular drug, so you can read about all the trials reviewed by the FDA for a particular drug, not just the ones that have been published.

FDA Approval Packages contain the research information on new drugs or biologics submitted to the FDA by drug sponsors that has been analyzed and critiqued by experts at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) or the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Once a new drug or biologic is approved for marketing, the FDA is required to make the Approval Package available to the public.

Approval Packages are typically large, unwieldy documents ranging from 50 to 1500 pages. To make these documents manageable, we prepare a Table of Contents and identify the pivotal studies for each package. These are the studies the drug sponsors believe prove the efficacy and safety of their submitted drug or biologic.

Drug Approval Packages available in IDIS for drugs approved in 2008 include those for Cimzia, Cinryze, Durezol, Entereg, Intelence, Lexiscan, Relistor, and Treanda. To search for these in IDIS, enter the drug name in Title field, and use Descriptor 155 - FDA Approval Package. New Approval Packages are continually added to the IDIS database.

Practice Search Questions Available

Want some practice searching in IDIS? Click here for 117 practice questions. Educators and non-student subscribers, please contact us at idis@uiowa.edu for the answer key. Students, please contact the person at your school who is in charge of IDIS for help.

The link to these questions has also been posted under "Our Favorite Links" on the right side of this blog.

The Link Between Acetaminophen and Asthma

The News:

A study published in this week's Lancet concluded that babies who were given acetaminophen for fever had a higher risk of developing asthma during childhood. (Source - MedPage Today)

IDIS Related Question:

Have there been any recent review articles about the use of acetaminophen in febrile children and the association with asthma?

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "ACETAMINOPHEN 28081221"

Disease(s): "PYREXIA, UNKNOWN ORIGIN 780.6"

Descriptor(s): "SIDE EF RESPIRATORY 79" and "REVIEW PEDIATRIC 21"

IDIS Results:

IDIS article 589221