Epcrates Rx: More than just drug monographs

There are two other great features of the free Epocrates Rx for iPod Touch and iPhone. The Pill ID feature lets you choose the shape, color, scoring, coating, imprinting on each side, and clarity of a drug. You are then shown a list of photos with possible matches. This is great for providers who are presented a pill by patient who doesn't know what it is. The database includes many of the popular generic manufacturers pills which is very helpful. The Pill ID database is also used by the monograph categories page to show you what the pills actually look like. This feature alone makes Epocrates Rx different from any other handheld computer drug guide I've seen.

Another feature is the Interactions guide. Just click the Plus sign and search for your patient's meds. When the list is complete, press View Interactions. You will get a list of drug pairs with cautions for each pair. This is a real timesaver.

Students will love the list of abbreviations. All the drug and medical abbreviations listed in the database are listed alphabetically in a very long list. The list is not searchable but the scrolling ability of the interface makes it relatively easy to find a listing.

Finally, there was a list of formulary data but, at least on my device, that list has disappeared. There may have been errors or concerns about their publication. We will keep you posted.