Micromedex
Micromedex also performed superbly in our recent Top 20 free iPhone Medical Apps rankings, coming in at #2. Simply put, this app is a streamlined medication reference. Its cardinal strength is the straightforward user interface; there’s very little extraneous razzle-dazzle to be found in this app [PIC #15]. Moreover, Micromedex packs a couple features of special interest to medical students and resident physicians, particularly the “mechanism of action” and “clinical teaching” sections.
Specifically, the mechanism of action affords a succint, several sentence-long description of how a given medication works (great information to jog the memory of a trainee), and the patient teaching highlights how patients should take a medication, and any side effects or toxicity alerts to watch out for—crucial information a prescribing physician should always be mindful of and tell his or her patient about when starting medications.
For instance, when prescribing amiodarone, a physician should monitor for pulmonary toxicity, thyroid derangements, QT prolongation, and hepatotoxicity, and instruct the patient to avoid sun exposure without sunscreen, keep regular ophthalmology check-ups, and avoid grapefruits or grapefruit juice. In addition, Micromedex content is updated approximately every two weeks. The only downside with this app is the lack of a strong drug interaction checker.
