RxList is a website that I've seen before but I only just now realized that it would be an excellent site to evaluate on the Farmingdale Public Library's Reference and You blog!
So...what is RxList? Indeed, the site bills itself as the Internet Drug Index. And what an index it is!
Users can click on a variety of tabs to find out about various drugs. There is an A-Z Drug List, a Pill Identifier, links to information about Supplements, Slideshows, Images, a link to a Symptom Checker, links to various Diseases, a Dictionary and a list of Quizzes.
On the homepage, there is a list of Features Topics on the left side of the screen - as of 2/25/15 the Featured Topics included: Childhood ADHD Facts, A-Fib: What Is It?, Gotta Go Foods, Breast Cancer Slideshow, Understanding MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
One of the most unique features of the site is the Pill Identifier section! It is a very handy and useful tool for those folks who take drugs or pills.
Users can enter any imprint on a the pill or medication, select the color and then select the shape. Users then click on the search button and a set of results appears with the criteria set forth in his/her choices. For example, I entered 'Pfizer' for the imprint, 'tan' for the color and 'oblong' for the shape.
Once I hit enter the result came up - which identified the pill as being 'Sutent Oreal'. On this page, readers have even more options with regard to the pill in question. Users can learn about the various uses, side effects, precautions, interactions and overdose information about this pill! Awesome information - and it is written in easily digestible English!
And, as if this isn't enough - there is a link on the page for User Reviews of the medication! Amazing. With the User Reviews, the date and time of the post is easily seen. User comments in the form of a narrative are available to read as well. Also, a five star system is used based on the various criteria like 'effectiveness' of the medication, ease of use, and satisfaction with the medication.
The other major section of RxList that makes the information unique is the Symptom Checker. Click here for the link.
Users enter information like gender, age, zip code and then are brought to another page to learn more about the symptoms that are affecting the person. On this second page, users can click on a diagram of the human body to find and choose symptoms. Alternatively you can select from any categories listed on the page - which are divided up into 'Common Symptoms' or 'Popular Symptoms by Condition'. There is also an A-Z List of Symptoms at the bottom of the page.
Eventually users come to a page where a particular symptom is explained. Related Symptoms are listed on the right side of the page and a list of causes of the condition are listed at the bottom of the page. Quite honestly, there is a huge, huge, huge amount of information on this part of the RxList website - almost, dare I say it, too much information.
In any event...this is a great place to start a search if you feel that you are getting sick or coming down with an illness!
Finally, as with all medical information, the consumer should be aware. With that in mind, click on this link from RxList which tells a little about the site (it is owned and operated by WebMD and part of the WebMD network.)
Enjoy the site and the bountiful information it contains. And good health to all who have read this blog entry this far!
Regards,
Stu
