Pharmacopoeia

Pharmacopoeia, text describing all available drugs and pharmacological preparations. It includes the properties and formulation, routes and doses of administration, mode of action, metabolism, and excretion, known interactions, contraindications and precautions, and toxicity and side effects of drugs. The first pharmacopoeia appeared in the 16th centruy in Germany (The Nuremberg pharmacopoeia). In the United States the first United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) was published in 1820. In 1888 the National Formulary was created. The two publications merged in 1980 and continue to be published.

See also: Drug.