This is an update of a review published in the November 2022 issue of Doody’s Collection Development Monthly. You can find the original review here.

Introduction

LactMed is a freely available, peer-reviewed drug information database focusing on the effects of drugs and chemicals found in breast milk during lactation. Substance levels in breast milk and infant blood are available, as well as adverse effects on nursing infants. Alternative drugs are also presented in individual entries.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides free access to LactMed through the NCBI Bookshelf feature. The primary authors are Philip O. Anderson, PharmD, FASHP, and Jason Sauberan, PharmD. Additional editors and peer reviewers can be found here.

As of this updated review, the user experience of LactMed remains unchanged. It continues to offer a simple and accessible search feature for users of all backgrounds and searching abilities.

Content

LactMed is a freely available drug information database focusing on the effects of drugs and chemicals found in breast milk. As a free information resource, it fills a crucial gap in providing robust and reliable drug information as many patients and researchers may not have access to expensive subscription databases.

While individual drug entries continue to be peer reviewed and updated as indicated by the last revision date at the top of each entry, it is unclear how frequently this process is completed. Further, it appears that no new enhancements or supplementary content have been added. The overall appearance and format of the drug entries remains the same and the search interface continues to be simple and limited. From a high-level perspective, LactMed has changed little since my original review.

Features/Functionality

LactMed has a simple search function that allows users to search by drug, chemical, drug class, CAS Registry Number, or subject term. Since LactMed is technically a book, it does not allow for complex or advanced search options. However, its simplicity makes it approachable and easy for all users of the database. Additionally, it contains links to PubChem for detailed drug and chemical information. It also links to PubMed for similar articles and related LactMed resources, such as the LactMed glossary, additional breastfeeding resources, and fact sheets for further research.

The simplicity of the search interface may continue to frustrate more sophisticated users who desire more functionality and limiters. The need to cross reference PubChem to verify synonyms or alternative drug names remains a challenge for those unaware of this extra step.

Business Model

The business model for LactMed remains the same: it is a free resource provided by the National Library of Medicine and accessed through the NCBI Bookshelf feature.

Breakthrough

LactMed continues to be a leading drug information database for any healthcare or academic institution to highlight for its users, whether they are healthcare professionals, librarians, or the general public seeking consumer health information. As not every institution or healthcare provider can subscribe to more cost-prohibitive proprietary resources, accessing a free database like LactMed is essential. Health sciences and hospital librarians should continue to include LactMed in their personal research toolkits and promote it in their resource guides.