First Databank, Inc. (FDB) announced that consumers now have access to a wide variety of drug information from FDB through simple queries via Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service. A subset of FDB’s drug information can now be accessed by consumers from any Alexa-enabled device.
This initiative will provide clinical drug information authored specifically for Alexa by FDB clinicians, based on their review of the most relevant content from the company’s proprietary consumer drug information monographs. Additionally, the project provides custom content that allows consumers to ask about a drug’s effects such as drug interactions, side effects, precautions and the drug’s class. The custom data file will provide information for Alexa customers in both English and Spanish and will be updated on a regular basis.
Some common medication-related queries that Alexa will now answer for consumers include:
· “Alexa, what is Tylenol?”
· “Alexa, what type of drug is ibuprofen?”
· “Alexa, what are the side effects of sertraline?”
· “Alexa, what is aspirin used for?
· “Alexa, does Zoloft interact with Aleve?”
· “Alexa, is Advil safe for pregnant women?
· “Alexa, what’s the difference between Tylenol and Advil?