# openFDA Drug Labels & Ingredients Scraper (`scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-labels-scraper`) Actor
Extract structured drug labeling for US medicines: brand and generic name, manufacturer, product type (OTC or prescription), route, active ingredients and strengths, NDC and application numbers, plus label sections like indications, dosage, warnings and interactions. Export to JSON, CSV or Excel.
- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapers\_lat/openfda-drug-labels-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Scrapers Lat](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet
## Pricing
from $2.00 / 1,000 results
This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.
Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event
## What's an Apify Actor?
Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".
## How to integrate an Actor?
If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.
In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md):
```bash
npm install apify-client
```
In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md):
```bash
pip install apify-client
```
In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md):
````bash
# MacOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash
# Windows
irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex
```bash
In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md).
If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).
For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.
For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).
# README
## openFDA Drug Labels & Ingredients Scraper
> Extract structured drug labeling for US medicines: brand and generic name, manufacturer, product type, route, active ingredients and the key label sections
OTC + Rx drug labels
United States coverage
JSON / CSV / Excel output formats
### What you get
Each record is one official drug label for a US medicine, flattened into clean columns. Search by brand, generic name, active ingredient or manufacturer, and optionally filter by product type or route.
Identity and reference fields:
- **brandName**: the marketed brand name(s) on the label
- **genericName**: the generic (non-proprietary) name(s)
- **manufacturerName**: the manufacturer or labeler
- **productType**: whether the product is over-the-counter, prescription or cellular therapy
- **route**: route(s) of administration (oral, topical, intravenous, ophthalmic and so on)
- **substanceName**: the active substance(s) in the product
- **activeIngredient**: the labeled active ingredient text with strengths
- **inactiveIngredient**: the labeled inactive ingredients
- **pharmClass**: pharmacologic class (established class, mechanism of action, chemical structure)
- **productNdc**, **packageNdc**: National Drug Code identifiers at product and package level
- **applicationNumber**: FDA application or ANDA number
- **rxcui**: RxNorm concept identifiers
- **unii**: unique ingredient identifiers
- **setId**, **splId**: stable label identifiers
Label text sections:
- **purpose**: the stated purpose of the product
- **indicationsAndUsage**: what the product is used for
- **dosageAndAdministration**: how to dose and administer it
- **warnings**: label warnings
- **contraindications**: when the product should not be used
- **adverseReactions**: reported adverse reactions
- **drugInteractions**: known interactions
- **doNotUse**, **whenUsing**, **stopUse**, **keepOutOfReachOfChildren**: consumer safety sections
- **effectiveTime**: the effective date of the label
- **observedAt**: when this record was collected by the scraper
### Who is it for
| Use case | Who benefits |
|---|---|
| Building and enriching a drug reference database | Pharma and health data teams |
| Powering medication lookup in a health app | Product and engineering teams |
| Ingredient, NDC and RxNorm mapping | Data engineers and informaticists |
| Competitive and formulary research | Pharma market intelligence teams |
| Labeling and compliance monitoring | Regulatory affairs teams |
### Frequently Asked Questions
**What does one record represent?**
One official structured product label for a US medicine, covering both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, with identity fields, ingredients, codes and the key label text sections.
**How do I search?**
Type a brand name, generic name, active ingredient or manufacturer and it is matched across all of them. You can also paste a raw expression that names a field, such as openfda.manufacturer_name:Pfizer or openfda.route:OPHTHALMIC. Leave the search empty to pull the most recent labels.
**Can I filter the results?**
Yes. Restrict by product type (over-the-counter, prescription or cellular therapy), by route of administration, and by manufacturer. Filters combine with the search.
**How many records can I pull in one run?**
Large pulls are paginated with a skip offset up to 25000 records per query. For bigger datasets, narrow the search keyword or add a filter so each run stays under that ceiling.
**What happens to missing fields?**
Labels vary in completeness, so any field not present for a given label is returned as null. The scraper never invents values.
### Export, API and AI agents (x402 + MCP)
Export the scraped data to **JSON, CSV or Excel**, pull it as a **dataset** through the Apify **API**, or wire it into your app with **no code**. This web scraper and data extractor also works for bulk data extraction and scheduled runs.
For AI agents: this Actor is available on **x402**, Apify's agentic payment standard built with Coinbase. An AI agent can discover, pay for and run it on its own with a funded wallet and a single HTTP request: no account, no subscription, no API key and no human in the loop. It also runs as an **MCP** tool inside Claude, Cursor and other AI clients out of the box. Learn more about [x402 agentic payments on Apify](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/x402).
### Related scrapers
Need data from the same space? Here are other scrapers we build and maintain:
- [openFDA Medical Device Adverse Events & Recalls Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/openfda-device-events-scraper): Extract FDA medical device adverse events (MAUDE), device recalls and 510(k) clearances.
- [openFDA Drug Events & Recalls Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-events-scraper): Scrape FDA drug adverse event reports (FAERS) and drug recall and enforcement actions.
- [NPPES NPI Provider Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/nppes-npi-scraper): Scrape US healthcare provider records from the official NPPES NPI Registry.
### More scrapers at scrapers.lat
This actor is built and maintained by [scrapers.lat](https://scrapers.lat), where we publish scrapers for Latin American and US public platforms: real estate, jobs, e-commerce, company registries and government data. Browse the full catalog, see live sample output for each one, or ask us for a custom scraper at [scrapers.lat](https://scrapers.lat).
---
> This actor is an independent tool and has no affiliation with the FDA or openFDA. It only accesses data that is publicly available through the open FDA data service. Use it in accordance with the applicable terms of service.
# Actor input Schema
## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):
Maximum number of drug label records to collect. Optional. Very large pulls are paginated with a skip offset up to 25000 records per query, so for bigger datasets narrow the search or add a filter.
## `query` (type: `string`):
A drug brand name, generic name, active ingredient or manufacturer (matched across all of them), for example ibuprofen, atorvastatin or Pfizer. You can also paste a raw search expression that contains a field, for example openfda.manufacturer_name:Pfizer or openfda.route:OPHTHALMIC. Leave empty to pull the most recent labels.
## `productType` (type: `string`):
Restrict to over-the-counter medicines, prescription medicines or cellular therapy products. Leave as Any to include every product type.
## `route` (type: `string`):
Restrict to a route of administration, for example ORAL, TOPICAL, INTRAVENOUS, OPHTHALMIC or NASAL. Leave empty for all routes.
## `manufacturer` (type: `string`):
Restrict to labels from a specific manufacturer or labeler, for example Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson. Leave empty for all manufacturers.
## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):
Optional. This source is a public, open data service and does not require a proxy. Leave disabled unless you specifically need to route requests through a proxy.
## Actor input object example
```json
{
"maxItems": 100,
"query": "ibuprofen",
"productType": "",
"proxyConfiguration": {
"useApifyProxy": false
}
}
````
# Actor output Schema
## `results` (type: `string`):
No description
# API
You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.
## JavaScript example
```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
token: '',
});
// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
"maxItems": 100,
"query": "ibuprofen"
};
// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-labels-scraper").call(input);
// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
console.dir(item);
});
// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs
```
## Python example
```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient
# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("")
# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
"maxItems": 100,
"query": "ibuprofen",
}
# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-labels-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)
# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
print(item)
# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start
```
## CLI example
```bash
echo '{
"maxItems": 100,
"query": "ibuprofen"
}' |
apify call scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-labels-scraper --silent --output-dataset
```
## MCP server setup
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"apify": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-labels-scraper",
"--header",
"Authorization: Bearer "
]
}
}
}
```
## OpenAPI specification
```json
{
"openapi": "3.0.1",
"info": {
"title": "openFDA Drug Labels & Ingredients Scraper",
"description": "Extract structured drug labeling for US medicines: brand and generic name, manufacturer, product type (OTC or prescription), route, active ingredients and strengths, NDC and application numbers, plus label sections like indications, dosage, warnings and interactions. Export to JSON, CSV or Excel.",
"version": "0.1",
"x-build-id": "hpWuVp51zOP6fAWwa"
},
"servers": [
{
"url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
}
],
"paths": {
"/acts/scrapers_lat~openfda-drug-labels-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
"post": {
"operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-scrapers_lat-openfda-drug-labels-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK"
}
}
}
},
"/acts/scrapers_lat~openfda-drug-labels-scraper/runs": {
"post": {
"operationId": "runs-sync-scrapers_lat-openfda-drug-labels-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK",
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
}
}
}
}
}
}
},
"/acts/scrapers_lat~openfda-drug-labels-scraper/run-sync": {
"post": {
"operationId": "run-sync-scrapers_lat-openfda-drug-labels-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK"
}
}
}
}
},
"components": {
"schemas": {
"inputSchema": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"maxItems": {
"title": "Max Items",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 1000000,
"type": "integer",
"description": "Maximum number of drug label records to collect. Optional. Very large pulls are paginated with a skip offset up to 25000 records per query, so for bigger datasets narrow the search or add a filter."
},
"query": {
"title": "Search Query",
"type": "string",
"description": "A drug brand name, generic name, active ingredient or manufacturer (matched across all of them), for example ibuprofen, atorvastatin or Pfizer. You can also paste a raw search expression that contains a field, for example openfda.manufacturer_name:Pfizer or openfda.route:OPHTHALMIC. Leave empty to pull the most recent labels."
},
"productType": {
"title": "Product Type",
"enum": [
"",
"HUMAN OTC DRUG",
"HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG",
"CELLULAR THERAPY"
],
"type": "string",
"description": "Restrict to over-the-counter medicines, prescription medicines or cellular therapy products. Leave as Any to include every product type.",
"default": ""
},
"route": {
"title": "Route of Administration",
"type": "string",
"description": "Restrict to a route of administration, for example ORAL, TOPICAL, INTRAVENOUS, OPHTHALMIC or NASAL. Leave empty for all routes."
},
"manufacturer": {
"title": "Manufacturer",
"type": "string",
"description": "Restrict to labels from a specific manufacturer or labeler, for example Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson. Leave empty for all manufacturers."
},
"proxyConfiguration": {
"title": "Proxy Configuration",
"type": "object",
"description": "Optional. This source is a public, open data service and does not require a proxy. Leave disabled unless you specifically need to route requests through a proxy.",
"default": {
"useApifyProxy": false
}
}
}
},
"runsResponseSchema": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"data": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"actId": {
"type": "string"
},
"userId": {
"type": "string"
},
"startedAt": {
"type": "string",
"format": "date-time",
"example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"finishedAt": {
"type": "string",
"format": "date-time",
"example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"status": {
"type": "string",
"example": "READY"
},
"meta": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"origin": {
"type": "string",
"example": "API"
},
"userAgent": {
"type": "string"
}
}
},
"stats": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"inputBodyLen": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 2000
},
"rebootCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"restartCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"resurrectCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"computeUnits": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
},
"options": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"build": {
"type": "string",
"example": "latest"
},
"timeoutSecs": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 300
},
"memoryMbytes": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 1024
},
"diskMbytes": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 2048
}
}
},
"buildId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultKeyValueStoreId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultDatasetId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultRequestQueueId": {
"type": "string"
},
"buildNumber": {
"type": "string",
"example": "1.0.0"
},
"containerUrl": {
"type": "string"
},
"usage": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 1
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_SERPS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
},
"usageTotalUsd": {
"type": "number",
"example": 0.00005
},
"usageUsd": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
"type": "number",
"example": 0.00005
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_SERPS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
```