Drug Definitions and Information Sources

Drug Definitions, Standards, and Information Sources

• Official drug name: The name listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Brand name (trademark): The name given to a drug by its manufacturer.
• Generic name (nonproprietary name): Provided by the United States Adopted Names Council
• Nutritional supplements: Information specific to nutritional supplements is found in the United States Pharmacopoeia/National Formulary (USP NF)
• Drug Interaction Facts: Contains information on drug interactions, not nutritional supplements.
• Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database: Contains evidence-based information on herbal medicines and herbal combinations, not nutritional supplements.
• USP Dictionary of USAN & International Drug Names: Compilation of drug names, pronunciations, and possible future FDA-approved drugs, does not include nutritional supplements.
• Drug monographs: Describe all drugs in a therapeutic class (found in Drug Facts and Comparisons)

Drug References

• Drug Facts and Comparisons: Contains drug monographs for virtually every single-entity drug available in the US, discussing approved and unapproved therapeutic uses.
• AHFS Drug Information: Contains drug monographs for virtually every single-entity drug available in the US, describing therapeutic uses, including approved and unapproved
• DailyMed: A standard, comprehensive, up-to-date online resource for medicine information easily downloadable for both healthcare providers and the public.
• American Hospital Formulary: Not intended for patient use.
• American Drug Index: Not suitable for patient use.

Controlled Substances

• Schedule II drugs: High potential for abuse and lead to severe psychological or physical dependence (e.g., meperidine/Demerol)

Expediting Drug Development

• Fast-tracking: The FDA's expedited review and approval process for investigational drugs relevant to significant public health needs.

Explore the nuances of drug definitions, standards, and the various sources of information available. This quiz will cover official drug names, brand names, generic names, and the details surrounding nutritional supplements. Test your knowledge on the differences between drug interaction facts and comprehensive medical databases.