Pharmaceuticals

MEDLINEplus Health Information: About Your Medicines
MEDLINEplus provides quality health care information from the world’s largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. This page includes links to resources for the latest news in drug information, as well as general information and overviews. Additional resources include newspapers and newsletters, law and policy, organizations, and information for children, teenagers, and seniors. Spanish information is also provided. See related sections of MEDLINEplus for information on Alternative Medicine, Antibiotics, Cancer Chemotherapy, Drug Safety, Herbal Medicine, Vitamin and Mineral Supplements and Over-the-Counter Medicines

MEDLINEplus Drug Information
The National Library of Medicine provides this guide to more than 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) in the USP DI® Advice for the Patient®. Brand names, drug category, descriptions, proper use, precautions, and side effects and included for each drug entry.

Ask NOAH About: Pharmacy
New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) is a project of four New York partners: The City University of New York, The Metropolitan New York Library Council, The New York Academy of Medicine and The New York Public Library. This page provides links to resources for basic information about pharmacy, drug company information, on-line pharmacies, and topics for special consideration.

NeedyMeds
This is a Web site built and maintained by Rich Sagall, MD, and Libby Overly, M.Ed., MSW, which provides a database of pharmaceutical manufacturers who have special programs to assist people who can't afford to buy the drugs they need. The database can be searched by drug name or by company name and provides contact information, program guidelines, enrollment procedures, and dispensing information.

RxAssist
This is a Web site from Volunteers in Health Care, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This site is a compilation of application criteria and forms for use by health care providers applying for free pharmaceuticals for their qualified uninsured patients. Most major drug manufacturers offer supplies of certain drug therapies free as part of their charitable outreach efforts.

How to Get the Most from Your Medicine
This fact sheet from the American Academy of Family Physicians provides general guidelines for taking prescription and over-the-counter medications.

General Information About Use of Medicines
This consumer health article from the Mayo Clinic addresses topics such as preparing to take medications, storage, proper use, precautions, and side effects.

Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program (MPAP)
MPAP is a 100% State-funded program that provides help to Maryland residents who are not eligible for participation in the Medicaid Program. It covers certain pharmacy and related supplies for people who are above the income or asset scale for regular Medicaid. This page provides information on eligibility, services, and how to apply, as well as a 14-page booklet on pharmacy assistance programs in Maryland. For more information, call MPAP at 410/767-5394, or outside of the Baltimore metro area at 1-800-492-1974.

Prescription Programs for People Living with HIV/AIDS
The Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program (MADAP) is a statewide program which provides prescription coverage for low-to-moderate income Maryland residents who are HIV-infected. The MADAP formulary covers a range of medication used to treat HIV infection and to treat, prevent, or relieve certain conditions associated with HIV infection. Visit this site for information on eligibility and application materials. For more information contact Client Services toll-free at 1-800-205-6308 or call 410/767-6535 or 410/767-1780.