Are you searching for medical information? For patients with multiple health conditions, allergies, or specific medication needs, having access to relevant and updated information on their medications is crucial. Often doctors and pharmacists don't have the time and patients have to find the information themselves. A common solution is to contact the medical Information (MI) department at pharmaceutical companies.
What is a Medical Information (MI) department?
Medical Information departments are equipped with healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, nurses, and physicians with domain expertise in their company’s products and targeted disease states. They are readily available to provide responses to patient inquiries. However, many patients are unaware of the resources that medical information centers provide, leaving a gap in medication knowledge and unanswered concerns.
How to Contact a Pharmaceutical Company's Med Info Department
Step 1: Identify manufacturer
Option 1: Examine the medication packaging for the company name, typically located at the bottom or top corners.
Option 2: Visit the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory website to search for products using the name or NDC number—a 10-digit code found on the packaging or barcode of the medication bottle.
Step 2: Navigate manufacturer website
On the medical information website, you'll typically need to provide your current country and specify if you're a healthcare provider or a patient/caregiver.
Step 3: Find inquiry submission options
Look for product information on the medical website through options like product search boxes, inquiry forms, or contact details like phone numbers or email addresses.
Product Search Boxes: Use the dropdown menu or search box to find the manufacturer's products, accessing package inserts and other details, including ingredient lists.
Inquiry Forms: Some sites provide inquiry forms to submit specific questions about products. Fill in your contact details and questions, and the medical information team will respond through your preferred method.
Email/Phone Number: Find medical information phone numbers or email addresses on websites for direct contact with the company's medical information team to request information about specific products.
Step 4: Submit your question
Submit any questions you have regarding your product. The medical information team will review and respond. Response times differ between companies, and calling the provided phone numbers might get you a quicker reply compared to email or inquiry submissions.
Pro tip: Make sure the pharmaceutical company representative understands your exact question or else you may get an incomplete or inaccurate answer.
How VeganMed Can Help
We get it – searching for information about your medications can be a real hassle, especially if you're dealing with multiple prescriptions from different manufacturers. But here at VeganMed, we're here to simplify things. Just reach out to our team with your list of medications (including manufacturer names and/or NDC for a quicker process), and we'll take care of finding your animal-free options for you.
Conclusion
The medical information department plays a crucial role in furnishing patients with trustworthy medical information about the products and medications they use or consider for the future. This knowledge is pivotal for safeguarding patient well-being and achieving positive health outcomes. However, as revealed in a recent study, there is room for improvement, as medical information departments demonstrated only a 60% accuracy rate when it comes to animal-derived ingredients. To ensure 100% accuracy, VeganMed has an independent certification program. We encourage patients to contact medical information departments and when it comes to animal-derived ingredients ask VeganMed or look for the Certified Animal-Free seal.
Here, we've gathered the contact details for leading pharmaceutical companies:
Manufacturer | MI Website | Contact Information |
AbbVie | Phone: 1-(844)-663-3742 Inquiry form on site | |
AstraZeneca | Inquiry form on site | |
Bayer | ||
Bristol Myers Squibb | Phone: 1-(800)-321-1335 Inquiry form on site | |
Johnson & Johnson | Phone: 1-(800)-526-7736 | |
Merck | Phone: 1-(800)-444-2080 | |
Novartis | Phone: 1-(888)-669-6682 LiveChat on website Inquiry form on site | |
Pfizer | Phone: 1-(800)-438-1985 Inquiry form on site | |
Roche | Inquiry form on site | |
Sanofi | Phone: 1-(800)-633-1610 Inquiry form on site | |
Aspen Pharmacare | Inquiry form on site | |
Aurobindo | ||
Cipla | Email: drugsafety@cipla.com | |
Fresenius Kabi | ||
Hikma | Email: us.hikma@primevigilance.com Inquiry form on site | |
Lupin Pharmaceuticals | ||
Sandoz | Phone: 1-(800)-525-8747 | |
Sun Pharma | Phone: 1-(833)-786-4636 Inquiry form on site | |
Teva | ||
Viatris | Phone: 1-(877)-446-3679 Inquiry form on site |
Co-authored by: Simran Atwal
Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on VeganMed is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.
Looking for certified and verified animal-free products?
Thank you for your awareness and concern for animal-derived ingredients!
As a reminder, please comment on our FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications. Together, we can make a difference.
If you have any further questions about ingredients in your medicines and supplements, feel free to reach out to the VeganMed team!