American Pharmacists Association Publishes 16th Edition Of Handbook On Nonprescription Drugs

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) recently published the 16th edition of the Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care. The textbook is unique in its comprehensive, authoritative examination of all self-care options-nonprescription medications, nutritional supplements, medical foods, complementary and alternative therapies, and nondrug and preventive measures-for self-treatable disorders. First published in 1967 and most recently in 2006, the Handbook has been thoroughly updated and three new chapters in the complementary and alternative medicine section have replaced those of the previous edition.

The 16th edition shows students and practitioners how to assess and triage a patient's health complaint. It also provides FDA-approved dosing information and evidence-based research on efficacy and safety considerations of nonprescription, herbal, and homeopathic medications. The book is designed for all clinicians, specifically pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, plus students in those disciplines.

Supporting use of the textbook are two online resources. A separate Web site devoted to the book (http://www.OTCHandbook.com) contains robust classroom and practice resources. And available for free to purchasers of the book is a fully searchable eBook of the entire textbook that may be downloaded to one's personal computer.

The book is uniform in organization from chapter to chapter and includes the following key features:

- Drug information: Redundancy has been reduced by deleting repetition of basic drug information in chapters discussing drugs that treat multiple disorders. Certain chapters have been designated as the primary chapter for discussing basic drug information for a given drug class.

- New case studies in each disease-related chapter

- Quick reference tools such as treatment algorithms (including exclusions for self-treatment), drug product tables, patient education sidebars, and product administration illustrations

- Color plate section with more than 50 illustrations

Seventy-seven health professionals from various disciplines and practice settings who have expertise in nonprescription medications and devices and other self-care options authored the book's 55 chapters. Ensuring balance and thoroughness, 131 carefully selected peer reviewers scrutinized the book's contents.

Rosemary R. Berardi, PharmD, FCCP, FASHP, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, served as editor-in-chief, as well as editor of the Gastrointestinal Disorders section. Nine other experts in self-care and nonprescription pharmacotherapy served as editors of such sections as Pain and Fever Disorders; Reproductive and Genital Disorders; Respiratory Disorders; Nutrition and Nutritional Supplementation; Ophthalmic, Otic, and Oral Disorders; Dermatologic Disorders; Home Medical Equipment; and Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

The section editors were Stefanie P. Ferreri, PharmD, CDE, University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill; Anne Lamont Hume, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Kingston; Lisa A. Kroon, PharmD, CDE, University of California at San Francisco School of Pharmacy; Gail D. Newton, PhD, RPh, Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana; Nicholas G. Popovich, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy; Tami L. Remington, PharmD, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor; Carol J. Rollins, MS, RD, PharmD, BCNSP, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Tucson; Leslie A. Shimp, PharmD, MS, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy; and Karen J. Tietze, PharmD, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The hardbound textbook (ISBN 978-1-58212-122-2; 1,050 pages) may be purchased for $159.95 ($144 for APhA members) through APhA's toll-free order department at (800) 878-0729 or online at http://www.pharmacist.com. Pharmacy school faculty who wish to consider the book for classroom adoption may request a desk copy via the textbook's Web site, http://www.OTCHandbook.com.

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, health systems, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings, and the uniformed services.

Source
American Pharmacists Association