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Using a free prescription drug dictionary online can help you understand the medicines your doctor is prescribing to you. Before you begin taking any prescription drug, you should weigh the risks and benefits the medicine will have on your health.

Doctors may not have the time or extensive knowledge needed to outline the exact nature of the thousands of drugs they prescribe every day, so being an active participant in your health care is a must. Checking a free prescription drug dictionary online prior to filling your prescription can make you feel more confident as a patient and consumer.

Information to Know

Knowing certain information about your prescription drug can make you safer while you take the drug. For example, some drugs may cause thoughts of suicide in those all ready prone to depression-even if the drug is not an antidepressant. You may want to find out the following information from an online prescription dictionary:
· Mild side effects
· Severe or long-term side effects
· Existing conditions (both physical or mental) under which the drug should not be taken
· Adverse interaction with other drugs you may be taking

Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist any other medications you are currently taking so that you can avoid an adverse interaction. Take charge of your health by keeping an up-to-date list of both your prescription and over-the-counter drugs in your wallet or purse for reference.

Learn About Generic Alternatives

With the rising cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, it is worth looking into a generic alternative to a prescription you were given. You can use a free prescription drug dictionary online to compare the ingredients, side effects, and effectiveness of generics to the brand name drug you were prescribed.

Discuss the pros and cons of using a generic with your pharmacist or doctor. Many medicines, especially birth control, have negligible differences and are fine to substitute for the prescribed drug. If you do not have a prescription drug plan with your insurance, a generic may save you thousands of dollars a year. It is worth looking into for most people.

Finding a Free Prescription Drug Dictionary Online

A large number of prescription drug dictionaries can be found online. Drug dictionaries should include at minimum a short description of the drug, side effects, possible dosages, overdose information, and active ingredients. Additionally, you may find listings of generic versions, drugs with the same ingredients, and the molecular composition of the drug. Studies of how the drug performed in clinical trials may also be included.

The following free online prescription drug dictionaries provide a number of informational services for patients and consumers:

CarePathways Medical Dictionary and Encyclopedia

This free prescription drug dictionary was created by nurses and healthcare providers. To use this dictionary, you simply type in the name of a drug to get a list of potential matches. For example, a search of the drug Zofran produces four results. The drug manufacturer, drug name, and active ingredient are listed. To learn more, click on any of the listings. A PDF file will then open that includes extensive drug information.

While it is easy to search, the PDF file is not a full-screen view. Sidebar ads are present on many screens, which may make the dictionary difficult to read.

MedlinePlus

Touted as a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, this dictionary allows for searching alphabetically by the brand or generic names of drugs. Searching for Codeine under Codeine Oral produces a table of contents at the top of the informational page. Jump to just the information you need, or simply read the entire document. A printer-friendly version is available and you can even email the information to a friend or family member.

Helpful links on the opening page direct the user to clinical trials, warnings and recalls, or FDA labeling. You can search for information on herbal remedies or supplements as well.

MedicineNet.com

The dictionary at MedicineNet.com provides for searching by keyword or phrase. Alphabetical searching is also available. Once you have found the drug you need, click on it. At the top of the next page, you will find in small letters the contents for the drug information, which includes side effects, precautions, drug interactions, usage, and storage information.

A nice feature of this dictionary is that certain drugs may cause a listing to appear in a sidebar that lists tops articles relating to the drug you are researching. You can also read up on medical news, learn about various health topics, or ask a question. A few sponsored ads are present, but the volume of health information available makes this a website you should visit.

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