You’ve probably heard that looking for something on the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant…. We’ve made it a bit easier by describing a few of our favorite websites.

www.pdr.net Provides the complete and official PDR information, but searching and entering drug regimens is more awkward than it should be.

www.epocrates.com Drugs are well-organized by class, descriptions are clinically useful; entering regimens is easy, but information is sparse. Shows whether particular drugs are covered by selected insurance and state formularies.

www.medscape.com/druginfo Good interaction information, but a bit difficult to get there. Useful expert interviews and very interesting “bulletin board” discussions for psychiatrists.

www.drugs.com Select the “Pill Identification” tab to enter the shape, color, and markings for a pill. It comes up with the right identification remarkably frequently.

www.pparx.org Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Enter a drug and find out whether there’s a way to get it for free for indigent patients.

www.clinicaltrials.gov Can help get your patient into a relevant clinical trial.

www.askapatient.com See what patients are really saying about the meds you’re prescribing. Ratings may not mean much, but the comments are often informative.

www.dr-bob.org/mental.html Bob Hsiung, M.D., provides links to all kinds of interesting sites. Worth checking it out.