Get answers to frequently asked questions about technical support, general information, answers about our clinical content, help with your account, and more.
The Medical Information team develops, distills, and compiles epocrates proprietary content. Other content that is licensed from external sources includes:
The epocrates clinical team updates drug information up to twice weekly.
Full topics on new drug products are added to epocrates around the time the drug becomes available to prescribe in the U.S. Additionally, abbreviated content for some drugs may be added when a pending FDA review date is assigned or once they are approved but still pending market availability.
Simply send an e-mail to clinical@epocrates.com with your request to add a specific drug.
epocrates provides drug topics based on product-specific information, such as available formulations, dosing, indications, manufacturer, and pricing. For example, epocrates includes a unique drug topic for a brand-name product, as well as a separate drug topic for the generic drug, if available. The generic drug topic covers only the strengths and forms available on the U.S. market as generic products. The brand-name drug topics are specific to each available brand product.
FDA-approved indications and off-label uses for prescription (Rx) drugs can be found under the Adult Dosing and Peds Dosing sections in epocrates drug topics. Each bold header is an indication or use for the product, followed by appropriate dosing.
From your mobile device home screen, select the Reference section, then Calculators, then select “Dosing Calculator”. On web, search for “Dosing Calculator”. It can also be launched from the Dosing section of any drug topic that contains weight-based dosing, using the “Calculate Dose” link. Note that this is a general weight-based dosing calculator that is not specific to any given drug. Depending on the drug, the dosage may be expressed as a single dose (e.g., mcg/kg/dose, mg/kg/dose, etc.) or as a portion of a total daily dose (e.g., mg/kg/day divided into individual doses to be given at the appropriate frequency). You must select the appropriate units for the drug in this calculator. Doses can be calculated for Tablet/Capsule, Liquid, or Injection/Other forms.
Calculating Dose When Dosage is Expressed as Single Dose (“/dose”)
If the dosage is expressed in single doses (e.g., 2.2 mg/kg/dose PO q12h”), calculate the amount that will be given at each individual dose by entering the Dosage (in amt/kg/dose) and the patient’s weight. You do not need to input a frequency when calculating a single dose. The single dose calculated is to be given at the frequency specified in the drug’s dosing.
Calculating Dose When Dosage is Expressed as a Portion of a Total Daily Dose (“/day”)
If the dosage is expressed as a portion of a total daily dose (e.g., “25-45 mg/kg/day PO divided q12h”), calculate the amount that will be given at each individual dose by entering the total daily Dosage (in amt/kg/day), the patient’s weight, and entering the dosing frequency (i.e., the interval between doses, which will dictate the equal portions into which the total daily dose will be divided). The calculated result will be displayed in terms of total daily dose (amt per day) and individual dose amount (amt per dose, to be given at the frequency that you entered).
Calculating Liquid Doses
If you wish the final dose to also be expressed in terms of volume of a liquid form, proceed as above and select “Liquid” as the Form. You will be prompted to input the concentration of the desired liquid form, in amt per mL. For instance, if the drug comes as a 250 mg/5 mL suspension, enter 250 mg on the first line and 5 mL on the second.
The epocrates Black Box Warnings section includes content adapted from boxed warnings appearing in the US prescribing information. epocrates may add content to this section before it is published in the US prescribing information if the FDA has released proposed language for a new boxed warning.
The Contraindications/Cautions section includes diseases, conditions, and other circumstances in which the drug should not generally be used or should be used with caution, regardless of the section in which it might appear in the prescribing information.
The contraindication “hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient” is meant to globally convey that hypersensitivity to the drug, drug class, or the inactive ingredients is a contraindication for use. epocrates drug topics also include some specific clinically relevant allergens and cross-allergen risks in the Contraindications/Cautions section.
epocrates includes all adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and lab abnormalities reported in at least 2% of patients at any recommended dose for any indication that occur more frequently in the treatment group than the placebo group. This may vary for products in which such information isn’t available; if data is reported differently (e.g., listed as >1% or >5% in the product labeling); or if not reported versus an active control. Common Reactions also include any ADR referred to as “frequent,” “common,” or “most common” in the product labeling or primary literature.
If an ADR doesn’t meet our inclusion criteria as a serious or common ADR, but that ADR is nonetheless serious, severe, frequent, and/or is strongly associated with the use of the drug, it will be included at the end of the Common Reactions.
Common Reactions for prescription drugs are usually listed in descending order of frequency. We may synthesize data from multiple sources and for multiple indications to arrive at an order that may differ from what appears in the drug's prescribing information.
For combination over-the-counter (OTC) products, Common Reactions are listed alphabetically.
Serious Reactions are included regardless of incidence. These effects are typically grouped by organ system or severity, but may sometimes be listed in other ways, such as alphabetically. The decision to include an effect as a Serious Reaction is based on its potential to cause death, result in significant morbidity or dependence/abuse, or require major medical intervention.
Because data on the incidence of ADRs can be variable, inconsistent, and potentially misleading, we’ve chosen to list common adverse reactions in approximate descending order of frequency, without frequencies.
Click on the Interaction Check icon or menu item and follow instructions to add two or more drugs, herbs, or supplements. You can also access Interaction check while viewing a specific drug, by selecting “Run Interaction Check” or “Add to Interaction Check”. Once all items are added, follow instructions to view interaction details.
Web
Use the Formulary pull-down menu at the top of the Drugs tab or atop an individual drug to change formulary plans or add a new formulary plan.
iOS and Android Devices
To add new plans, use the “Add New Formulary” button, which can be found in 3 locations in the app:
(1) Formularies Tool: Go to the Reference page from the epocrates home screen, select “Formularies” (umbrella icon), and then tap the “Add New Formulary” button at the bottom of the screen.
(2) Formulary Bar: When performing a search or browsing drugs by subclass, you can tap the Formulary bar at the bottom of the screen, and then “Add New Formulary” button at the bottom of the screen. (
3) Drug Topic: When viewing the sections of a drug topic, tap the Formulary section to view the Formulary details for this drug and the selected plan. Next, tap the “Add New Formulary” button at the bottom of the screen.
Find the desired plan(s) using the search bar and/or filters for state and formulary type. Tap each plan name you need, then tap “Add Formulary” at the bottom of the screen. The new plan(s) will then be included in your Recent Formularies list.
To change a formulary, access the Recent Formularies list through the Formularies tool or the Formulary bar, then tap on the desired plan. In the Formulary section of a drug topic, your recently viewed formulary plans appear below the coverage details under the heading “Other Formularies.” Tap on the desired plan. The name of the newly selected plan will appear at the top of the Formulary section. Currently there is not a way to delete a formulary. The list is your 30 most recently viewed ones. When you have 30 added and you add number 31, the oldest one will be removed from the list.
We typically make the following note in the Dosing sections of the epocrates drug topic:
Brand Discontinued in US [see generic]
or
Brand Discontinued in US [select or search generic name for alternatives]When viewing a brand-name drug topic for which a generic and/or other brand products are available, simply click/tap on the generic name at the top of the topic to quickly navigate to these alternatives.
Not at this time.
The epocrates Medical Information Team requests that all such inquiries:
New Monograph Requests
Product Labeling Updates
Content Correction Requests
Yes!
We understand the challenges students face and are committed to being a trusted resource they can rely on for their studies and careers beyond. As such, we are offering complimentary access to epocrates+ resources while students are attending school!
Please ensure you have registered an epocrates account either from the epocrates mobile app or online at epocrates.com through the Create Account option. Also ensure that you have registered your account with your student email address.
We currently offer two ways for students to access epocrates+ content.
For Medical Students, (MD or DO programs), complimentary access is provided through the use of your Medical Education number. Please ensure you have set your occupation to Medical Student and this will trigger an offer in the mobile app which will require you to enter your ME number. The system will then use the graduation year indicated in your ME number to provide you with complimentary access to epocrates+ through the end of the graduation year.
In the event that your expected graduation year has changed, or you are seeing an error with the ME number you have entered, please reach out to support for further assistance. Please make sure to include the name and email registered with epocrates, along with the name of your school, your current expected graduation year and an explanation of what you experienced. Possible reasons for an error could include a graduation year that occurred in the past, or an issue recognizing the school code in the ME number.
If you do not have an ME number, or are unaware of how to obtain it and you are an MD or DO student, please reach out to: the AMA Unified Service Center at 1-800-621-8335.
For all other students, visit us here and select My Account or General Info and Student Resources to learn more!
Please ensure when reaching out that you provide the following:
• Name and email registered with epocrates
• Name of your school and expected graduation year
• The type of medical program you are attending, (NP, PA, Nursing, Pharmacology etc.)
• Your student email address
Please ensure you are using your student email address for your epocrates account. Further details regarding this offer will be sent to this address for confirmation purposes. If needed, your account email can be updated from the profile page online at epocrates.com or by using the "Change Email" option form the profile section of the mobile app.
Your occupation can be updated to reflect you as a student from the profile page at epocrates.com using the link below. If you cannot find a specific listing that matches your area of study, please use "Student - Other".
www.epocrates.com/account/profile
The best way to reach out to support is by using the Help and Feedback section within the mobile app, or the Help and Feedback section online at epocrates.com.
Within the mobile app, Help and Feedback can be located within the account settings icon found in the upper-right corner of the home screen in the mobile app. On epocrates.com, this section can be located via the link below. You may already be on this page right now!
www.epocrates.com/online/feedback
Alternatively, we can be reached by emailing "support@epocrates.com". When reaching out, please provide as much info as possible for best assistance. If you have an existing epocrates account, please ensure the name and email registered to the account are included.
Please be aware that support is only available via email. We are a small, yet dedicated, support team and your inquiry is always a top priority. Typically, support inquiries are addressed within 1-2 business days, if not sooner. Many inquiries are addressed the very same day.
We understand that your time is valuable and it is always our goal to answer your inquiries with as much priority as possible. Typically, support inquiries are addressed within 1-2 business days, if not sooner, whenever possible, with many inquiries being addressed the very same day. We are a small, but dedicated team and we look forward to assisting you however we can!
If you've submitted a support case and haven't received a reply, it may be that the correspondence is being sent to your email's Spam folder. Email domains, such as Gmail, may have other sections the email could be filtered into, such as Promotions, so ensure all possible folders have been explored and that you have used your email's search feature to locate emails from epocrates.
Another potential issue is that your account email is no longer valid. Unless specified otherwise in your outreach, communication will be sent to the email address registered to your account. If this email is no longer valid, then we will have no way of replying to your inquiry. Please ensure your account email is up to date to properly receive communications from epocrates.com. Your account email can be updated from within the epocrates mobile app under the profile icon in the upper-right corner of the apps home screen, or online at epocrates.com from your account's profile page via the link below.
www.epocrates.com/account/profile
You can buy epocrates+ through us directly by logging in here and proceeding to check out.
You can also purchase epocrates+ through the epocrates mobile app on your mobile device. To do so, tap on the account settings icon in the upper-right corner of the apps home screen and then choose "epocrates Subscription Level". You can also tap on any epocrates resource that contains an "e+" symbol which indicates an epocrates+ feature. Please note that when upgrading through the mobile app, you will be purchasing through your Apple account on iOS devices, or your Google Play account on Android devices. Any correspondence regarding your subscription purchase, such as your receipt, will then be sent by either Apple or Google respectively and sent to the email address associated with that account.
Here’s a list of the devices that are compatible with epocrates:
Supported Mobile Operating Systems
iOS (Apple Devices) Smartphones and Tablets: Versions 16.x and higher (excludes iPod devices)
Android (Excluding Kindle) Smartphones and Tablets: Most Versions 9.x and higher
Supported Computer Operating Systems
Windows 8.1, 10, or higher with the latest updates
macOS Monterey 12.5 or higher with the latest updates
Support Browsers
Chrome (Recommended) latest version
Safari with the latest updates
Microsoft Edge with the latest updates
Your feedback regarding epocrates functionality and features is greatly appreciated. While changes based on feedback are not guaranteed, all requests are submitted to the epocrates product development team for consideration.
If you have positive feedback or comments, please share them by writing a review in the Apple App Store or Google Play app store.
General feedback can be submitted to us directly via the Help and Feedback section of the epocrates mobile app, (located within the account settings icon in the upper-right corner of the apps home screen), as well as through the Help and Feedback section online at epocrates.com using the link below. The mobile app may also provide various feedback opportunities through the home page, or content search results.
https://www.epocrates.com/online/feedback
If you’ve forgotten your epocrates password and are unable to log into your account, please use this link to reset it.
Please use a valid email address for your epocrates account to ensure you can receive the password reset request and other correspondence from epocrates. We suggest using an email address that will not be changing for the foreseeable future such as a personal email, as opposed to a business or student address.
If you are already able to access your account and would like to update your account email or password, options for doing so can be located from the account settings icon in the upper-right corner of the home screen of the mobile app. There will be options there for "Change Email" as well as "Change Password". Alternatively, options to change your credentials can be located online at epocrates.com from the profile page accessible via the link below, or by clicking on the circle icon in the upper-right corner of the website and choosing "Account".
www.epocrates.com/account/profile
If you purchased epocrates+ through the epocrates website and would like to update your billing information, you will need to log into your account online at epocrates.com and use the "Update Payment Information" link on the Payment and Subscription page to update your billing details. This update will automatically apply to future renewals.
If you purchased epocrates+ through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must update your billing information through your Apple ID or Google Play account.
We do offer discounts on bulk subscription purchases for medical practices, groups and institutions! The page below will provide further details on discounts available for purchases of 2-30 1-year licenses, as well as how we can be contacted for requests of 31 or more. We hope to hear from you!
www.epocrates.com/plus/group
Currently, epocrates+ subscriptions renew automatically per their billing cycle. We do not have options for early renewal at this time.
Yes!
We now offer 2-year and 3-year subscription plans. Further details can be found at the page linked below.
www.epocrates.com/account/subscription
We do not offer single gift licensing options at this time, however our group purchasing options allow for a minimum of 2 licenses to be purchased and the licenses could be used to gift a year of epocrates+ access. Further information is available via the link below.
www.epocrates.com/plus/group
For purchases made through us directly at epocrates.com, your billing receipts are sent to the email associated with your epocrates account. A PDF version of your receipt is also available for download from the Payment and Subscription page online at epocrates.com via the link below.
www.epocrates.com/account/subscription
Please note that if you have purchased your epocrates+ subscription through Apple or Google Play from within the mobile app, then your billing details are emailed by Apple or Google to the email address associated with your Apple or Google account. There should also be a purchase history available through these respective accounts where further details can be obtained.
Much of the clinical content that the epocrates mobile app provides is downloaded and saved to the mobile device. There is some content that may be data intensive and prohibitive to saving to device memory due to the file sizes, such as pictures associated with Disease or Pill ID content. This, as well as other content, such as ICD-10, may need a direct connection to our servers in order to function properly. Basic features such as Drugs, Calculators and Interaction Check, (among others), can be used with the app running in "Offline Mode". This is especially useful when the app is being used in areas with poor to no network connectivity. To put the app into "Offline Mode", access the network settings of your mobile device and activate "Airplane Mode". This will tell the device to stop actively looking for a cellular or wi-fi network connection and will force the mobile app into "Offline Mode". If there is a feature in the app that requires a network connection, you will see this displayed in a prompt.
epocrates has discontinued offering our mobile app and the ability to purchase an epocrates+ subscription to non-U.S.-based customers. You will still be able to access free epocrates content and features through epocrates online (epocrates.com). We apologize for this inconvenience. Please contact our Support Team if you have any questions or concerns.
Below are the resources offered by epocrates for free versus what is available with a subscription to epocrates+. Further information regarding these resources can also be located online at epocrates.com via the links provided below.
www.epocrates.com/features
www.epocrates.com/plus
Standard epocrates
- Drug Information
- Interaction Check
- Pill ID
- Guidelines & Decision Tools
- Formulary
- Medical News
- Calculators and Risk Scores
- CME
- COVID-19 News & Resources
- Picture Quiz
- Reference Tables
- Bugs and Drugs
epocrates+ Features
- Disease Information
- Herbs and Supplements
- ICD-10 Codes (Mobile App only)
- Infectious Disease Treatment (Mobile App Only)
- Labs (Mobile App only)
Yes!
Your epocrates account will provide the same level of access whether you are online at epocrates.com or using the epocrates mobile app. Please note, however, that due to licensing restrictions, not all resources in the mobile app are available at epocrates.com. Below are a few examples of resources only available within the mobile app.
- Labs
- ICD-10
- Infectious Disease Treatment
In order to access your subscription content in the mobile app, it's important to ensure that you are logged into the app with the same account that your epocrates+ subscription was purchased with. By tapping on the Profile icon in the upper right corner of the mobile app's home screen, you will be able to confirm what email address you are signed into the mobile app with and sign into the correct account if needed.
If you are signed into the correct account and your paid content still has not unlocked, force close the mobile app and re-launch it.
If there continues to be an issue accessing the paid content, navigate back to the Profile section of the mobile app, tap on the Settings icon in the upper-right corner and then the "Update Clinical Content" option to refresh the app and it's content. This process should only take a few moments. Please don't navigate away from the app during this time or the process may be interrupted.
No.
By simply registering an account or installing the mobile app, you are immediately able to access all of the standard, free content epocrates offers both online at epocrates.com, as well as in the mobile app. You are only charged if you choose to purchase an epocrates+ subscription which unlocks access to our premium features and content.
Standard promotional offers from epocrates can be applied toward new subscription purchases online at epocrates.com on the Payment and Subscriptions page via the link below. Please note that discounts do NOT apply to subscription renewals. Subscription renewals will charge standard cost by default.
www.epocrates.com/account/subscription
License codes that are purchased through our group sales process must be applied through the dedicated page linked below.
www.epocrates.com/license/redeem?code=
How to cancel your subscription depends on where the subscription was purchased, (epocrates.com/Apple/Google Play).
Note that anytime a subscription is purchased from within the epocrates mobile app, then you will be purchasing through either Apple or Google, depending on if you're using an Apple or Android device.
epocrates Web Purchase
Navigate to epocrates.com and login.
Click on the icon containing your initials in the lower-left corner and choose "Account".
Click on the "Payment & Subscription" section of the page and under the "Subscription" section, click on "Cancel Subscription".
Follow the prompts to proceed.
Apple App Store Purchase
From within the epocrates mobile app, tap on the profile icon in the upper-right corner of the home screen.
Tap on the "Manage Profile" section.
Tap on the "Manage epocrates+ Subscription" option. You will then be taken to the Subscriptions section of your Apple account where the epocrates+ subscription can be cancelled.
Alternatively, subscriptions purchased through Apple can be managed by directly accessing the "Settings" options for your Apple device.
Tap on the Settings icon on your mobile device and then the Apple account icon toward the top.
Locate and tap on the "Subscriptions" section.
Locate epocrates among the list of Apple subscriptions and tap to open further options.
Tap on the "Cancel Subscription" option in red toward the bottom.
Google Play Store Purchase
From within the epocrates mobile app, tap on the profile icon in the upper-right corner of the home screen.
Tap on the "Manage Profile" section.
Tap on the "Manage epocrates+ Subscription" option. You will then be taken to the Subscriptions section of your Google Play account where the epocrates+ subscription can be cancelled.
Alternatively, subscriptions purchased through Google Play can be managed directly through the Google Play Store on your Android device.
Navigate to the Google Play Store on the mobile device.
Tap on your profile picture and then navigate to the "Payment and Subscriptions" section.
Tap on the "Subscriptions" section and locate epocrates among your list of Google Play subscriptions.
Tap on "Cancel Subscription" and follow the prompts to proceed.
*Cancelling a subscription will only unsubscribe from future renewals. It does not remove your current subscription access, or act as a refund request.
*Subscriptions should be cancelled at least 24-48 hours prior to the day of your scheduled renewal to ensure you will not be charged.
Refunds for epocrates+ subscription purchases will be honored within 14 days of purchase upon request. Requests that are submitted outside of 14 days will be addressed on a case by case basis and are not guaranteed.
To inquire about a refund for a subscription purchased on epocrates Web, please contact epocrates support through the Help and Feedback sections of the epocrates mobile app, or online at epocrates.com. We can also be reached by emailing support@epocrates.com.
*If your subscription was purchased through Google Play on an Android device, epocrates support may be able to assist further. Google may only be able to assist with your request if the subscription was purchased within the last day.
*If your subscription was purchased through Apple, support will be unable to assist with your request, as we would not have access to the purchase. Please contact Apple support directly to inquire about a refund. Refunds through Apple are subject to Apple's internal policies and guidelines.
Let us know, and we'll happily answer any questions you have.