Today is our topic of discussion Drug Information Sources.
Drug Information Sources
DRUG INFORMATION SOURCES
Official Compendia
Official compendia include information sources (or books) on drugs which are recognized by the government of that country as ‘legal standard: Thus Indian Pharmacopoeia, National Formulary, British Pharmacopoeia Codex, Pharmaceutical Codex, United States Pharmacopoeia and such other Pharmacopeias are official compendia.
Pharmacopoeia: It is the official publication containing a list of drugs and medical preparations. In Greek ‘Pharmacon’ means drug and ‘poeia’ is to make. It contains list of drugs and related substances that are proved for use, their source, formulae and other information needed to prepare the drugs, their physical properties, tests for their identity, purity and potency.
Each country may follow its own pharmacopoeia. We thus have Indian pharmacopoeia, British Pharmacopoeia, United States Pharmacopoeia, USSR and Japan. Pharmacopoeia. The European Pharmacopoeia was published by the Public Health Committee and the European Pharmacopoeia Commission. The International Pharmacopoeia is published by WHO in many languages like English, French, Spanish and Russian.
The first pharmacopoeia of India was published in 1868. But later under the British rule, the British Pharmacopoeia was followed. After independence, a committee was set up and Indian Pharmacopoeia was released in 1955.
Experts from pharmaceutical industry, drug control laboratories and research and teaching institutions helped the committee. All pharmacopoeias are revised at regular periods to delete old useless drugs and to include newly introduced ones.
Drug formulary also provides information on drugs. The National formulary is a smaller book that contains information on formulations which are used therapeutically. It is prepared by the National Formulary Committee set up by the Ministry of Health Government of India. Expert opinion is also taken from medical associations, hospitals, teaching institutions and pharmaceutical industry in preparing this book.
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