Use PubMed, DailyMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, CDC, and WHO to research medications, and always review findings with a provider.
Reliable information about medications and health conditions comes from a specific set of trusted sources, and learning to tell them apart makes you a better-informed patient. This guide walks through the major databases, how to read what you find, and why research findings should always be discussed with a licensed provider rather than used to self-treat.
## Where to Look for Authoritative Information
- [DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/) — the National Library of Medicine's repository of official FDA-approved drug labeling. This is the most authoritative source for approved uses, dosing, warnings, and side effects of a specific medication. - [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) — a search engine for biomedical literature covering millions of published studies. Use it to find peer-reviewed research on a topic, though many entries are abstracts only. - [PMC (PubMed Central)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/) — a free full-text archive of biomedical journal articles, useful when you want to read an entire study rather than just its summary. - [ClinicalTrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/) — a registry of ongoing and completed clinical trials, showing what's actively being studied, in what population, and at what stage. - [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/) — practical, public-health-focused guidance on infections, prevention, and treatment recommendations. - [WHO](https://www.who.int/) — global health guidance, including the Model List of Essential Medicines and international treatment recommendations. - [MedlinePlus](https://medlineplus.gov/) — the NIH's plain-language consumer health information site, a good starting point before diving into technical literature.
## How to Tell a Drug Label From a Preprint
| Source type | What it is | How much weight to give it | |---|---|---| | FDA label (DailyMed) | Officially reviewed, legally binding prescribing information | Highest — reflects regulatory-approved evidence | | Peer-reviewed published study (PubMed/PMC) | Research reviewed by independent experts before publication | High, but check study size, design, and population | | Clinical trial registration (ClinicalTrials.gov) | A study that is planned, ongoing, or completed | Informative about what's being studied, not proof of an outcome | | Preprint | A study posted online before peer review | Preliminary — findings may change or fail to replicate | | News article or blog summarizing a study | Secondary interpretation | Useful for awareness only; always check the original source |
## Reading a Study Without Overinterpreting It
A few habits make it easier to read medical research responsibly:
- Check whether the study was done in cells, animals, or humans — findings often don't carry over between these - Look at the sample size; a study of a handful of people is preliminary, not conclusive - Note whether the study has been peer-reviewed and published, or is still a preprint - See whether other studies have reproduced the same finding - Check the publication date — guidance and evidence change over time
## Why You Shouldn't Self-Treat From a Study
Even a well-designed, peer-reviewed study describes what happened in a specific research population under specific conditions — it does not tell you how a medication will interact with your personal health history, current medications, or other conditions. Only a licensed provider can translate research into an individualized, safe decision for you, which is why an evaluation is always required before starting an FDA-approved medication like [ivermectin](/medications/ivermectin) or [mebendazole](/medications/mebendazole).
## Bringing Research to Your Provider Appointment
If you find a study or article you want to discuss, it's completely reasonable to bring it to your provider. Come with the citation or a link, note what question you have about it, and let your provider explain how, if at all, it applies to your situation. This kind of collaborative conversation is exactly what [provider review](/eligibility-and-provider-review) is meant to support.
## Continuing Your Education on Get It Prescribed
Our [Learn hub](/learn) collects plain-language articles on how these medications work, safety considerations, and the provider review process, and our [how it works](/how-it-works) page explains what to expect from start to finish.
## Related questions
### Is a preprint the same as a published, peer-reviewed study? No. A preprint is posted online before independent experts review it, so its findings are preliminary and may change, be corrected, or fail replication during peer review. Published, peer-reviewed studies have been through that additional layer of scrutiny.
### Where can I find the official FDA-approved information for a medication? DailyMed, maintained by the National Library of Medicine, hosts the official FDA-approved prescribing information for medications sold in the United States, including approved uses, dosing, and safety warnings.
### Can I use ClinicalTrials.gov to see what treatments are currently being studied? Yes. ClinicalTrials.gov is a public registry showing trials that are recruiting, ongoing, or completed, along with their design and, where available, results. It's a good way to see what research is happening without assuming an outcome is proven.
### Should I change my medication based on something I read online? No. Bring what you've read to your licensed provider and discuss it together. Only your provider can weigh new information against your personal health history and decide whether any change is appropriate.
## Sources - [DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/) — Official FDA-approved drug labeling repository. - [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) — Biomedical literature search from the National Library of Medicine. - [PMC](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/) — Free full-text archive of biomedical research. - [ClinicalTrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/) — Registry of clinical studies. - [CDC — Parasitic Diseases](https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/) — Public health guidance on parasitic infections. - [MedlinePlus](https://medlineplus.gov/) — Consumer health information from the NIH.