Citing an Individual Page on MedlinePlus

If you wish to cite an individual page on MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine recommends the citation style below, based on Chapter 25, "Web Sites," in Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (2nd edition, 2007).

This style, like many other citation styles, requires that for online references you include the date you accessed the information. In the following examples, replace the date after the word “cited” with the latest date you saw the information online. You will also need to indicate the date that the page was last updated and the date it was last reviewed. These dates are available at the bottom of each applicable page on MedlinePlus.

Homepage

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated Jun 24; cited 2020 Jul 1]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/.

Health Topic page

Begin by citing the MedlinePlus homepage, then add information about the topic being cited:

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2020 Jun 24]. Heart attack; [updated 2020 Jun 10; reviewed 2016 Aug 25; cited 2020 Jul 1]; [about 5 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/heartattack.html

Genetics page

Begin by citing the MedlinePlus homepage, then add information about the topic being cited:

Genetic condition, gene, chromosome, or Help Me Understand Genetics page

MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2020 Jun 24]. Noonan syndrome; [updated 2020 Jun 18; reviewed 2018 Jun 01; cited 2020 Jul 1]; [about 5 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/noonan-syndrome/.

Drug Information

Begin by citing the AHFS Patient Medication Information database, then add information about the drug being cited:

AHFS Patient Medication Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.; c2019. Protriptyline; [updated 2020 Jun 24; reviewed 2018 Jul 5; cited 2020 Jul 1]; [about 5 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604025.html

Encyclopedia

Begin by citing the A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, then add information about the entry being cited:

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia [Internet]. Johns Creek (GA): Ebix, Inc., A.D.A.M.; c1997-2020. Nail abnormalities; [updated 2019 Jul 31; reviewed 2019 Apr 16; cited 2020 Aug 30]; [about 4 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003247.htm

Herb and Supplement Information

Begin by citing Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version, then add information about the entry being cited:

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version [Internet]. Stockton (CA): Therapeutic Research Faculty; c1995-2018. Clove; [updated 2020 Jun 4; reviewed 2020 May 21; cited 2020 Jul 1]; [about 4 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/251.html

Linking to MedlinePlus from XML Files or Web Service

If you are linking to MedlinePlus or using data from our XML files or web service, please cite, attribute, or otherwise clearly indicate that the content or link is from MedlinePlus.gov. You can use the following text to describe MedlinePlus:

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.