[PSR-News] LactMed, a new database from the National Library of Medicine

[Kelli Ham]

Hello Network Members,

We are pleased to forward the following announcement from NLM:

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The National Library of Medicine just released a new database, LactMed, on 
drugs and breastfeeding (see note below).  It is part of TOXNET 
(http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov)  and can be searched together with all the 
TOXNET database or separately at the following URL:
(http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT).

LactMed: A New Database on Drugs and Lactation from the National Library of 
Medicine

LactMed, a free online database with information on drugs and lactation, is 
one of the newest additions to the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) 
TOXNET system, a Web-based collection of resources covering toxicology, 
chemical safety, and environmental health.  Geared to the healthcare 
practitioner and nursing mother, LactMed contains over 450 drug records. 
It includes information such as maternal levels in breast milk, infant 
levels in blood, potential effects in breastfeeding infants and on 
lactation itself, the American Academy of Pediatrics category indicating 
the level of compatibility of the drug with breastfeeding, and alternate 
drugs to consider.  References are included, as is nomenclature 
information, such as the drug’s Chemical Abstract Service’s (CAS) Registry 
number and its broad drug class.

LactMed was developed by pharmacist who is an expert in this subject area. 
Three other recognized authorities  serve as the database’s scientific 
review panel.  Ancillary resources, such as a glossary of terms related to 
drugs and lactation, and breastfeeding links are also offered.  LactMed can 
be searched together with TOXNET’s other databases in a multi-database 
environment, to obtain other relevant information about drugs.  As a work 
in progress, LactMed will continue to expand with additional drugs and be 
enhanced with other substances, such as industrial chemicals and radiation.


Kelli Ham
Consumer Health Coordinator
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Pacific Southwest Region
(310) 825-1984
kkham at library.ucla.edu