A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when

absorbed into the body of a living organism

DEFINATION;-

A substance used in the diagnosis,

treatment ,or prevention of a disease
or as a component of a medication.
OBJECTIVES;-
Describe the attributes and the differences between tertiary ,
secondary and primary resources.

Identify the most appropriate resources for a given drug

information enquiry and use them effectively

Recognize that primary ,secondary and tertiary resources may

be available in hard copy.CD-ROM ,ON LINE and /or orther
Format.

Describe how to search computerized databases.

Understand the role of computer bulletin boards and the

internet as drug information resources.

Recognize that professional organizations ;pharmaceutical

manufactures drugs information centers and poison centers are
alternate sources of drug information.
Professionals
literatures;-

Tertiary
primary

Secondary secondary

Primary sources Tertiary

 They are the research studies published in the
biomedical journals.
It is the most current information about drugs .
It is not easy job to use journals to answer a drug
related question because of its huge growing
number(>20000 biomedical journals available)
Primary resources provide the broad base for
development of the rest the professional literature.
It contains original reports of scientific studies which
the knowledge of drugs and therapeutics built.
Current of the information sources ;and periodical
journals are its most common format .

Providing access to the original data from a study as

well having the most current information.
 They are indexes and abstracts for primary resources.
They are valuable tools for quick and selective
screening for primary resources.
They provide the user with concise tools for gaining
access to the primary literatures.
Any single indexing or abstracting service can not
cover all published articles beside the lag time are the
limitations to use secondary.
Tertiary Resources

Literatures
Tertiary resources include textbooks
;monographs; Compendia; Handbooks;
and published symposia.

They represent the condensation of

basic facts originally published in the
primary literature.
 A vast array of information about many
Compendia
drug such as the physicians desk
reference.

Full Text
Database Including the internet
MICROMEDEX and LEXI

Review
Articles Summarize a particular topic
contain more current
information

Text Books
On various drug or disease
topics.
 Tertiary Resources are the most commonly used sources of
information because they are easy to use, concise and
compact.
Often they provide a review of the literature by an expert in
the field.
Tertiary references (textbook.CD-ROMS)are convenient
and in general ;fairly accessible.
Drug information references may be divided into specific
subjects to make them easier to use.
Usually the information contained in tertiary literature
is well accepted in medical practice.
 Lag time ..outdated even in new editions.
Space limitations within a text may prevent extensive
discussion of a drug or topic.
Authors may emphasize limited information about a
topic or drug.
Authors may present information that is based on a
less through review of the primary literature.
Any updated or new information can not be inserted
into the printed(hard copy) tertiary literature in a
timely fashion.
 Does the author have sufficient experience and expertise to
write on the topic?
Assess the text for timeliness(i.g; when was the last edition
published?)
Is this the most recent edition of the tertiary reference?
Are statements of fact appropriately supported by
references?
How many references does each section have and how-up-
to-date are they?
Is the reference clear;concise and easy to use?
 Tertiary resources are available in many formats ;
including hard copy; microfiche and computerized
versions . Computerized resources may be available on
floppy disks; or CD-ROMS for use in a single personal
computer or computer network a main frame system
or via internet.
 CLASSIFICATION OF TERTIARY RESOURCES

TERTIARY DRUG INFORMATION RESOURCES

GENERAL SPECIALIZED
REFERENCES REFERENCES
GENERAL FEATURES
They are referral books

Their formats are either monographs or

monographs plus chapters.

Used through their index NOT through their contents

lists.
Different from the general references :-
Their formats are chapters.

One can read them from cover to cover

One can use their content list NOT necessary to go to

index.
The most helpful of them to answer
a drug related questions are:
 European and investigational drugs.

Published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great

Britain every 4 years.

Has a manufactures directory and index by clinical use.

List other pharmacopeias the drug is found.

 Drug facts and (F&C):

Update monthly (loose- leaf version)

Lag time 3 months.

Arranged by therapeutic class.

Prescription and OTC listings.

Helpful summary/ comparison tables.

Mosbys drug consult
Mosbys drug consult:-

Frequently used brand and generic drugs.

Available at www.merckmedicus.com

Annual update

Additional information:

drug identification ; look alike/sound- alike.

Manufacturer information ; discontinued service. .

American Hospital Formulary
Service Drug Information.
USP Dispensing information
 MICROMEDEX@

CD-ROM
Access information by brand or generic name of drug.

Referenced ; quick and easy to use.

Expensive ; uses other tertiary references.

Databases available:
DRUGDEX :- main drug information database.
DISEASEDEX:- disease states.
IDENTIDEX:- drug identification by impact code.
IDENTIDEX:- drug identification by imprint code.
POISINDEX:- poisoning and toxicology.
MARTINDALES:- Foreign drug.
DRUG TOPIC S RED BOOK
 Drug Topics Red Book
Cost data average wholesale prices(AWP) and NDC
numbers (the national drug code)

Alphabetical listing of manufacturers with contact

information.

Prescription and OTC products.

List of drugs that should not be crushed or chewed.

Published annually with monthly updates.

Well Written and referenced with helpful tables.

Pocket version is available.

Focuses on drug therapy; good background information.

Also covers non- drug treatment options.

Updated editions about every 4 years.

Gold standard for internal medicine

Published every 5 years referenced.

Pathophysiology ; clinical presentation ;diagnosis and treatment

guidelines.

Little drug information & dosing recommendations.

Used by many healthcare professionals.

Also include pediatrics; gynecology;

psychiatry ; dental disorders.
Helpful for extemporaneous compounding.

Pharmaceutical calculations; chemistry radioisotopes.

New edition every 5 years.

Alternate sources of Drug information ;-

Electronic bulletin boards (EBBS)

Internet ,lest Servers; and USNET news

Local and national professional organization

Pharmaceutical manufactures.

Drug information and poison control

centers.
 THANK
YOU