Compendium Serves As An Authoritative Reference On Safe Pharmacy Compounding

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 18 Mar 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention has announced the release of a new edition of the Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia, a comprehensive resource containing critical information for advancing the practice of safe and effective pharmacy and veterinary compounding.

Compiled under the guidance of leading pharmacy and veterinary experts, the Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia offers practicing compounding professionals vital information on safely preparing, compounding, packaging and storing medications. It combines relevant text from the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP-NF) - the compendia that provide the official standards for quality, purity and strength for prescription and over-the-counter medications sold in the United States - with authorized content developed by USP's Council of Experts. The Council of Experts is the volunteer governing body that directs USP's scientific and standards-setting decisions.

"The Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia is not only an important resource that assists compounding professionals in doing their jobs more effectively, but it is a key component in assuring the safety of patients with individualized needs who use compounded products to treat their medical conditions," said Darrell Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D., chief science officer for USP. "The reference is an important part of USP's almost 200-year tradition of supporting the health professional's key role in promoting public health and safety."

This is the second edition of the Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia. The new version has been substantially updated and expanded from the first edition, released in 2005. It includes:

* the newly revised General Chapter Pharmaceutical Compounding - Sterile Preparations;

* 134 official monographs for compounded preparations and 73 USP General Chapters covering compounding, packaging, labeling and storage of pharmaceutical preparations;

* entirely new sections on veterinary compounding and food ingredients, flavorings and colorings; and

* enhanced and expanded sections on compounding support, dietary supplements, and legal requirements and laws applicable to compounding.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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USP - Advancing Public Health Since 1820

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a private, non-profit, standards-setting organization that advances public health by ensuring the quality and consistency of medicines, promoting the safe and proper use of medications, and verifying ingredients in dietary supplements. These standards, which are recognized worldwide, are developed by a unique process of public involvement through the contributions of volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other health care professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations. For more information about USP and its four public health programs, visit http://www.usp.org/newscenter.

Source: Francine Pierson
US Pharmacopeia