Drugs & Supplements
Drugs & Supplements Overview
According to studies of consumer information-seeking behaviors, consumers need information about a prescription or over-the-counter drug’s safety, efficacy, and potential interactions or side effects6. Specifically, they have questions about antibiotics7 and vaccines8.
Consumers are also looking for information about herbs and supplements. In 2012, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 52% of Americans took at least one dietary supplement, with a multivitamin being the most common. Consumers want to know about the efficacy, side effects, and administration of the supplements they’re taking9.
The Drugs & Supplements section of MedlinePlus provides this information for more than a thousand records on prescription and over-the-counter medication, herbs, and supplements. Like health topics, you can find drug and supplement information by using the search box or browsing alphabetically.
MedlinePlus Drug Page Example
6. Pache, D. M., Hollingworth, S. A., van Driel, M. L., & McGuire, T. M. (2019). Does consumer medicines interested reflect medicines use? An observational study comparing medicines call center queries with medicines us. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 15(4), 440-447. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.06.012
7. Hawke, K. L., McGuire, T. M., Ranmuthugala, G., & van Driel, M. L. (2015). What do consumers want to know about antibiotics? Analysis of a medicines call centre database. Family Practice, 33(1), 75-81. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmv083
8. Marnix, M., Kreijkamp-Kaspers, S., McGuire, T., Deckx, L., & van Driel, M. (2017). What do health consumers want to know about childhood vaccination? An evaluation of data from an Australian medicines call centre. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41(1), 74-79. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12607
9. Nathan, J. P., Kudadjie-Gyamfi, E., Halberstam, L., & Wright, J. T. (2019). Consumers' information-seeking behaviors on dietary supplements. International Quarterly of Community Health Education, 40(3), 171-176. doi:10.1177/0272684X19874967