C H A P T E R 1
Introduction to drugs
11
SOURCES OF DRUG INFORMATION
The fields of pharmacology and drug therapy change so
quickly that it is important to have access to sources of
information about drug doses, therapeutic and adverse
effects and nursing-related implications. Textbooks
provide valuable background and basic information
to help in the understanding of pharmacology, but
in clinical practice it is important to have access to
up-to-the-minute information. Several sources of drug
information are readily available. Nurses and midwives
often need to consult more than one source.
Drug labels
Drug labels have specific information that identifies a
specific drug. For example, a drug label identifies the
brand and generic names for the drug, the drug dosage,
the expiration date and special drug warnings. Some
labels also indicate the route and dose for admini
stration. Figure 1.3 illustrates an example of a drug
label.
Understanding how to read a drug label is essential.
Nurses and midwives need to become familiar with each
aspect of the label.
Package inserts
All drugs come with a package insert prepared by the
manufacturer according to strict TGA regulations. The
package insert contains all of the chemical and study
information that led to the drug’s approval. Package
inserts sometimes are difficult to understand and are
almost always in very small print, making them difficult
to read. The TGA (
), MEDSAFE (www.
medsafe.govt.nz) and New Zealand Formulary websites
are good resources for finding the prescribing informa-
tion or package insert for most drugs.
Reference books
A wide variety of reference books are available for drug
information. The
MIMS
is a compilation of package
insert information from drugs used in Australia. As the
content can be quite technical, the book may be difficult
to use.
Drug dose
Dose available
in this product
Lot number
Specific drug batch from
which this drug was
produced; important for
recall information
Expiration date
Indicates date after
which the drug should
not be used
Quantity
Amount of the drug
in this package
Generic name
Chemical name of the
drug listed by the TGA
Brand name
Name given to
the drug by the
manufacturer
Drug manufacturer
Pharmaceutical company
Prescription status
Indicates drug is
prescription only
Australian Register
of Therapeutic Goods
(ARTG) number
Number used to
identify a specific drug
Storage
information
FIGURE 1.3
A sample drug label. (Used with permission from AstraZeneca Pty Ltd.)
