Drug Side Effect Reference
Find Side Effects in FDA-Approved Labels
DailyMed shows the complete, official FDA-approved drug labels with all side effects. This tool helps you understand how side effects are presented in these labels.
Every day, millions of people rely on medications to manage their health. But when a new warning pops up, or you need to check if a side effect you’re feeling is listed, where do you turn? Not every website has the latest, legally approved info. For accurate, real-time drug labels and side effects, DailyMed is the only official source you need.
What DailyMed Actually Is (And Why It Matters)
DailyMed isn’t just another drug database. It’s the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s official public repository for current drug labeling. Run by the National Library of Medicine, it holds every single FDA-approved package insert - the full, detailed document that comes with every prescription and over-the-counter medicine. This includes boxed warnings, dosing instructions, what the drug treats, and most importantly, the full list of side effects.
Unlike commercial sites like WebMD or Medscape, DailyMed doesn’t summarize or interpret. It shows you exactly what the drug manufacturer submitted to the FDA - in real time. If a company updates a warning about liver damage on Monday, that change appears on DailyMed by Tuesday. No lag. No guesswork.
As of October 2025, DailyMed holds over 150,000 drug labels. That’s every human prescription, OTC drug, animal medication, and even medical gases approved in the U.S. It’s the source hospitals, pharmacists, and regulators use to verify what’s accurate.
How to Search for a Drug on DailyMed
Getting to the right label shouldn’t be a puzzle. Here’s how to do it fast:
- Go to dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.
- In the top-right corner, you’ll see a search box with a magnifying glass icon. Click it.
- Type the drug’s brand or generic name - like "metformin" or "Lipitor".
- Wait for the auto-suggestions. If you see multiple results, look for the one with the most recent "Effective Time" date.
If you know the National Drug Code (NDC) - that 10-digit number on the pill bottle - use that instead. It’s the most precise way to find the exact product from the exact manufacturer. For example, two brands of metformin might have different NDCs. One might be the original, another a generic. DailyMed shows both, but only the NDC tells you which one you’re looking at.
Finding Side Effects: The Direct Path
Side effects aren’t buried. They’re clearly labeled. Once you click on a drug result, you’ll land on the product page. Scroll down or use the table of contents on the right side of the screen.
Look for the section titled "ADVERSE REACTIONS". That’s where all the reported side effects are listed - from common ones like nausea or dizziness to rare but serious ones like anaphylaxis or liver failure. The section breaks them down by frequency: very common, common, uncommon, rare.
Don’t skip the subsections. Some drugs list side effects by organ system (e.g., "Gastrointestinal Disorders," "Cardiac Disorders"). Others list them by clinical trial data versus post-market reports. Both matter. Post-market reports often reveal side effects that didn’t show up in trials because they’re too rare.
Pro tip: If you’re looking for a specific side effect - say, "rash" - use the browser’s search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and type "rash". It’ll jump you right to every mention in the document.
Understanding the Label Structure
Drug labels follow a strict format called Structured Product Labeling (SPL), mandated by the FDA. Knowing the sections helps you navigate faster:
- BOXED WARNING - The most serious risks. Always read this first.
- INDICATIONS AND USAGE - What the drug is approved to treat.
- DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION - How much, how often, and how to take it.
- WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS - Who shouldn’t take it, drug interactions, monitoring needed.
- ADVERSE REACTIONS - Side effects, as described above.
- DRUG INTERACTIONS - What other drugs, foods, or supplements to avoid.
- USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS - Pregnancy, breastfeeding, elderly, kids.
If you’re a patient, focus on the Boxed Warning, Adverse Reactions, and Drug Interactions. If you’re a clinician, every section matters. The label is a legal document - every word is there for a reason.
DailyMed vs. Other FDA Tools
You might hear about Drugs@FDA, FDALabel, or the Orange Book. Here’s how they differ:
| Tool | Best For | Side Effects? | Current Info? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DailyMed | Finding full, current drug labels | Yes - detailed, in "ADVERSE REACTIONS" | Yes - updated daily |
| FDALabel | Searching across many labels at once | Yes - search by "ADVERSE" or "SIDE EFFECT" | Yes |
| Drugs@FDA | Approval history, application numbers | No - limited to summary data | Partially - older versions only |
| Orange Book | Generic drug equivalence | No | Yes - for therapeutic equivalence |
If you need to compare side effects across 10 different blood pressure drugs? Use FDALabel. If you need to know exactly what your patient’s pill bottle says? Use DailyMed. They’re not competitors - they’re teammates.
Real-World Use Cases
Pharmacists use DailyMed daily. One pharmacist in Ohio found a new warning about metformin and kidney function that wasn’t in her hospital’s EHR system. She checked DailyMed - the update had been posted 12 hours earlier. She alerted her team. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
An oncologist in Minnesota used the NDC code to confirm a dosage change for a specific brand of chemotherapy drug. The hospital’s database had outdated info. DailyMed showed the new label with the correct infusion rate. He adjusted the order. The patient avoided a dangerous reaction.
Even patients are using it. A mother in Texas searched for her child’s ADHD medication after noticing increased anxiety. DailyMed listed "agitation" as a common side effect. She called the doctor - they adjusted the dose. No panic. No guesswork.
What Doesn’t Work on DailyMed
DailyMed isn’t perfect. Its interface hasn’t changed much since 2015. The search doesn’t handle typos well. If you type "asprin" instead of "aspirin," you’ll get nothing. The mobile site is clunky. You can’t sort side effects by severity. There’s no downloadable summary - just the full label in XML or PDF.
And it doesn’t show adverse event reports from the FDA’s FAERS database. That’s a separate system. DailyMed tells you what’s in the label. FAERS tells you what people actually reported after taking it. Both are important. But only DailyMed tells you what the FDA officially approved.
How to Stay Updated
Drug labels change. All the time. If you rely on this info for your health or your job, you need to know when updates happen.
Every drug page on DailyMed shows the "Effective Time" - the exact date the label was last updated. Always check this. If it’s older than 6 months, it might be outdated.
For professionals: sign up for the NLM’s DailyMed email alerts. You’ll get notified when new labels are added or existing ones are updated. It’s free. It’s reliable.
For patients: bookmark your most-used drugs. Set a reminder to check them every 6 months. Side effects can change as more people use a drug. What was rare in 2020 might be common in 2025.
Final Takeaway
DailyMed isn’t flashy. It doesn’t have slick graphics or chatbots. But when it comes to drug safety, you don’t want flashy. You want truth. And DailyMed is the only place that gives you the full, unedited, legally binding truth about what’s in your medicine.
If you’re a patient, use it to double-check side effects before starting a new drug. If you’re a caregiver, use it to understand what your loved one is taking. If you’re a healthcare worker, use it to make sure your practice is based on the latest facts - not outdated memory or commercial summaries.
The FDA doesn’t just require drug companies to submit labels. They require them to be public. DailyMed is how that promise is kept. Use it. Trust it. Rely on it.
Is DailyMed free to use?
Yes. DailyMed is completely free and open to the public. It’s funded by the U.S. government through the National Library of Medicine and the NIH. No sign-up, no subscription, no paywall.
Can I trust DailyMed over WebMD or Google?
Absolutely. DailyMed shows the original FDA-approved label from the drug manufacturer. WebMD, Google, and most health sites summarize, simplify, or even misinterpret that data. DailyMed is the source document - no filtering, no editing. If it’s not on DailyMed, it’s not officially approved.
Why do I see multiple labels for the same drug?
Different manufacturers make the same drug. For example, there are over 20 different versions of metformin from different companies. Each has its own label, with slight differences in warnings, dosing, or side effects. Always match the label to the exact brand or NDC on your prescription.
How often is DailyMed updated?
DailyMed is updated every business day. As soon as the FDA receives a new label from a manufacturer, it’s published on DailyMed - usually within 24 hours. This makes it the fastest public source for safety updates.
Can I download drug labels from DailyMed?
Yes. On each drug page, click the "Full Label" link, then select "Download as PDF" or "Download as XML." PDF is easiest for reading. XML is for developers or researchers who need structured data. You can also download bulk files for all drugs if you’re doing research.
What if I can’t find a drug on DailyMed?
If a drug isn’t listed, it might be: 1) Not FDA-approved, 2) Very new (takes up to 30 days to appear), 3) An unapproved compound, or 4) A supplement (DailyMed only covers regulated drugs). Check Drugs@FDA for approval status, or contact the NLM support team if you believe it’s missing.
Dan Alatepe
December 26, 2025 AT 18:50Brooooooo. I found my mom’s blood pressure med label on DailyMed and nearly cried 😭 There it was - ‘may cause sudden emotional detachment from grandchildren’ - and she’s been giving me the cold shoulder for 3 months. Turns out it’s ‘rare’… but still. MY SOUL IS VALIDATED. 🙏💊
Angela Spagnolo
December 28, 2025 AT 08:19i just… i didn’t know… i mean, i’ve been taking metformin for 7 years… and i never checked the label… i just trusted the pharmacy… and now i’m sitting here reading about lactic acidosis and… oh my god… i think i need to lie down… 🤯
david jackson
December 30, 2025 AT 04:26Let me just say this - DailyMed isn’t just a database, it’s a time machine. You type in your drug, and suddenly you’re staring at the exact words that the FDA approved, the same words that the manufacturer submitted in 2018, then updated in 2021 after three people in Iowa had weird dreams about squirrels, and then again in 2024 when someone in Florida reported that their tongue turned purple after eating grapefruit with it - and now you’re reading it in real time, like a detective who just found the smoking gun in the fridge. This isn’t ‘health info’ - this is forensic pharmacology, and it’s free. No ads. No influencers. Just raw, unfiltered, legally binding truth. And if you’re not using it, you’re letting someone else interpret your medicine for you - and that’s not just lazy, it’s dangerous.
Jody Kennedy
December 31, 2025 AT 14:16YESSSSSS! I’m a nurse and I literally scream this at my patients every day. WebMD says ‘maybe dizziness’ - DailyMed says ‘dizziness in 23% of users, 8% reported falls requiring ER visit’. That’s the difference between guessing and knowing. I even printed out my dad’s new cholesterol med label and taped it to his fridge. He now checks it every Sunday. He calls it ‘The Bible of His Pills’ 😂🙏
Bryan Woods
January 2, 2026 AT 00:25While the utility of DailyMed is unquestionable, I would suggest that users exercise caution in interpreting the ‘ADVERSE REACTIONS’ section without clinical context. The frequency classifications (very common, uncommon, etc.) are based on clinical trial populations and may not reflect real-world risk distribution. Additionally, the absence of a side effect in the label does not imply safety, only lack of sufficient evidence at the time of approval.
Ryan Cheng
January 3, 2026 AT 15:16For anyone new to this - don’t overthink it. Just type your drug name. Click the most recent date. Scroll to ‘ADVERSE REACTIONS’. Ctrl+F for anything scary - like ‘heart’ or ‘liver’ or ‘suicidal’. If you see it, talk to your doc. If you don’t, still talk to your doc - because sometimes the real risk isn’t in the label, it’s in how you take it. You’re not just a patient. You’re the CEO of your own body. And DailyMed? It’s your annual report.
wendy parrales fong
January 4, 2026 AT 07:25It’s funny how we trust a stranger on TikTok with our health but won’t check the real label. I used to think meds were magic. Now I know they’re just chemicals with paperwork. DailyMed is like the owner’s manual for your body. You wouldn’t drive a car without reading it - why take a pill without reading yours?
Jeanette Jeffrey
January 6, 2026 AT 05:20Wow. Another ‘use DailyMed’ sermon. Newsflash: most people don’t care about SPL formats or NDC codes. They just want to know if their headache is normal. You’re treating patients like biochem grad students. Meanwhile, 80% of users still trust Google. This isn’t a revolution - it’s a lecture no one asked for.
Shreyash Gupta
January 7, 2026 AT 01:20But what if the drug is from China? Or India? DailyMed only has FDA-approved stuff. What about the 30% of people who use generics from overseas? You’re not helping - you’re gatekeeping. 🤷♂️💊 #GlobalMedicine #NotAllDrugsAreAmerican
Ellie Stretshberry
January 8, 2026 AT 09:29I just looked up my anxiety med and saw ‘increased suicidal thoughts in adolescents’… I’m 32… but I still felt sick. I called my doctor. We lowered the dose. I’m okay now. Thank you for this. I didn’t know I could do this. I didn’t know I was allowed to.