From: norstar@tnl.com (Daniel Ray)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: TNL OFFERS NEW PHARMACEUTICAL IDENTIFICATION DATABASE SERVICE
Keywords: drug, pharmaceutical, imprint, identification, dosage form
Date: 1 Oct 92 11:31:50 GMT
Organization: The Northern Lights, Troy NY


The Northern Lights announces the availability of our PHARMID pharmaceutical
identification database by email request. To use this service, send email

	To:  mailserv@tnl.com
	Subject: pharmid xxx yyy

Where the subject begins with the word 'pharmid' and is followed by the
search string to be used as a query (in the example 'xxx yyy'). Or put
the 'pharmid xxx yyy' in the body. The subject is looked at first.

Currently we have all of the U.S. Controlled Substances entered, including
many old dosage forms and generic and veterinary preparations not found in
the PDR. As time goes on, we will enter all other modern products and what
we can get our hands on.

We welcome reports of OLD, VETERINARY, and FOREIGN products that cannot be
found in a recent PDR. We are especially interested in Mexican and Canadian
dosage forms. If you have authoritative information, you can submit it to

	norstar@tnl.com

for manual inclusion. Be sure to supply all fields as discussed below.

This database is not for illicit use. In an emergency, contact your doctor
or poison control facility.

Below is the help file. The key to successful use is to enter JUST ENOUGH
information, usually a subset of the complete identifier.


PHARMID(1)		The Northern Lights (TNL v2)		PHARMID(1)

      THE NUMBER FOR THE POISON CONTROL HOTLINE IS  1 800 336-6997


Name
	pharmid - query TNL pharmaceutical identification database


Syntax
        $ elm -s"pharmid drug string" mailserv@tnl.com

	where "drug string" is the exact search phrase according to the
	conventions below. Other mailers besides elm can be used, but
	the "Subject:" line must start with 'pharmid' and be followed by
	the search phrase.


Introduction

  This database is used to identify pharmaceutical dosage units that possess
  a manufacturer imprint or code number. You enter this identifier and a search
  will be performed giving you information on matching drug products. If you
  have entered ambiguous information, the matching identifiers will be dis-
  played after which you must enter more specific information.

  If you are having trouble finding a match, enter briefer information such
  as only the ending code number for a tablet or capsule. For tablets and cap-
  sules that have a letter or group of letters on one side or above a number or
  code string, search using the letter(s) first followed by a SPACE then the
  number or code string.

Search protocol

  1. IDENTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OR LOGO: If present, this always forms the FIRST
word of the search string. If a logo has a geometrical design, use ONLY the
alphabetic component of it without describing the rest of the design. Never
enter the manufacturer except by what is present as an imprint.
  2. USE SPACES WHEN: part of the imprint is on one side of the dosage unit,
and the other part of the imprint is on the other side. Or, when a score line
separates imprinting on each side of the line. Or, when part of the imprint is
ABOVE another part on the same side of the dosage unit. If two or more of
these conditions are present, then you form your string starting on one side,
using SPACEs if needed, followed by a SPACE and then the other side the same
way. Never use more than ONE space when separating words in a search string.
  3. IF ONE SIDE HAS LETTERS, AND THE OTHER SIDE HAS NUMBERS, THE LETTERS COME
FIRST: when you are unsure of the manufacturer string, whose side comes first
if you know it. Enter the letter(s) then a SPACE then the number(s).
  4. OBSERVE SPACES AND PUNCTUATION WHEN PRESENT: such as an imprint that says
"7.5MG" versus "7.5 MG", or "78" above "-1122" (which is "78 -1122"), etc.
  5. CASE IS UNIMPORTANT: uppercase versus lowercase does not matter.
  6. IF UNSUCCESSFUL, USE JUST THE ENDING CODE NUMBER: If, for example, you
entered "BMP 0022" and no matches were found, try just "0022".
  7. ALWAYS OMIT COLOR, DOSAGE FORM, SHAPE: or any other nonIMPRINT descriptor.


Search examples

   1. You have a yellow capsule to identify. On the left half is a strange
looking "a" and on the right half are the letters "CH". Remember that you
should never enter the colors, shape, or dosage form (capsule). All we are
concerned with are the "a" and the "CH". The proper search string would be
"a ch" (case does not matter). If this does not work, try "ch". You should
recognize the stylized "a" as the manufacturer logo.
   2. You want to identify a white tablet that has a score on one side with
the letters "P" and "F" on each side of the score line, and on the other
side has the letters "MI" above the number "15". When one group of letters
or numbers is above the other or on the other side of the dosage form, we
use a space to separate them. Thus the proper code is either "mi 15 pf" or
"pf mi 15". Further, if a score line separates the "P" from the "F" as it
does here, add a space between them ("p f"). If this does not work, just try
a single side, such as "mi 15" since it contains numbers and is more likely
to be the specific identifier.
   3. You have a capsule that has an "S" inside a triangle followed by the
number "78-112". Always use the logo if it is easily converted. Thus the
proper search string would be "s 78-112". The logo always comes first.
Or, you try to identify a yellow tablet with a "K" in script on one side and
a "4" on the other side. Always enter the string as "k 4" not "4 k", with the
letter preceding the number, separated by a SPACE.


Exceptions to inclusion in pharmid database

  (Why some drug items are not carried in the pharmid database)

  1. Item has no nonambiguous identifier. Most modern products now carry a
unique imprint, but old tablets and capsules, as well as a few remaining
current ones, still lack this. An example is a tablet that has the manufac-
turer imprint and a unique shape and color, but no other imprint that sepa-
rates it from other products the manufacturer makes. Identification by eye
using a photograph would still be possible, often with the aid of the product
identification section of the PDR. Liquid drugs lack unique identifiers if
they are outside the original bottle, and thus can never be included.
  2. Item is not descriptively listed in the PDR. This is often the case for
many of the generic drug companies, as well as many veterinary drugs. For these
inclusion is only possible if we personally come across the product or get
a report describing it. We welcome descriptions of generic products.
  3. Item is a foreign manufactured product that differs from U.S. equivalents.
  4. Item is an old drug or obsolete dosage form. Although we try to include
older products whenever possible, many are missing. We welcome reports of them.
  5. Item is a nonoral product that is fully identified, such as a vial of
injectable solution that has a complete label on it. There is generally no
need to list ampoules, vials, patches, suppositories, and topical drugs.


Disclaimer

  The Northern Lights does not guarantee accuracy of data or reliability
  of information. Use at your own risk. Illicit use of this material is
  prohibited. For educational and poison control uses only.

  Although the primary use of this service is to identify drugs involved in
  poisoning or overdose cases, you are warned to also visually consult a PDR
  or other official reference before concluding on the contents of a drug
  product.

  When responding to a poisoning in progress, never delay in contacting your
  physician or poison control center.


Abbreviations used by pharmid

  C-I		DEA Schedule I controlled substance (most controlled, no use)
  C-II		DEA Schedule II controlled substance (most controlled)
  C-III		DEA Schedule III controlled substance (5 refills in 6 months)
  C-IV		DEA Schedule IV controlled substance (5 refills in 6 months)
  C-V		DEA Schedule V controlled substance (includes exempt narcotics)
  0		Not a DEA controlled substance (may still be prescription drug)

  Rx		Caution: Federal (U.S.A.) law prohibits dispensing without
		prescription (requires M.D. order before dispensing)
  VRx		Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the
		order of a licensed veterinarian (veterinary prescription drug)
  OTC		Over-the-counter drug (non-prescription)

  SA		Sustained-action formula
  EC		Enteric-coated tablet

  mg		Milligrams
  meq		milliEquivalents
  iu		International units


Data structure

  All pharmid data is stored as text with the fields separated by : colons.
  There are a total of 10 fields. The key (unique) field is the first field,
  the identifier string. Each database file is sorted in alphabetical order
  by this field. An example record is given below:

  bmp 202:antibiotic:beecham:generic:amoxicillin 100mg:0:VRx:film-coated \
  tablet:blue:none

  Field 1	Identifier string.
  Field 2	Drug therapeutic category.
  Field 3	Manufacturer.
  Field 4	Brand name, or 'generic'.
  Field 5	Generic ingredients. Multiple ingredients are listed in order
		of importance, with commas but no spaces separating them.
  Field 6	DEA controlled substance schedule (C-I through C-V), or '0'
		for not a controlled substance.
  Field 7	Dispensing category. Prescription (Rx), veterinary prescrip-
		tion (VRx), or 'OTC'.
  Field 8	Dosage form, one of:
			  film-coated tablet
			  compressed tablet
		 	  capsule
			  liquid-filled capsule
			  suppository
  Field 9	Color or color1/color2 of dosage form.
  Field 10	Comments, or 'none' for no comments. This field also contains
		data such as 'EC' for enteric coated tablets, and 'SA' for
		sustained action preparations.



         The Pharmid Service is Copyright (c) 1992 by Daniel Ray.

PHARMID(1)		The Northern Lights (TNL v2)		PHARMID(1)


thats it. have fun.

Also try sending mail to mailserv@tnl.com with a Subject: index
for other files.

-- norstar
The Northern Lights, Troy NY                                 |      
tnl dialins: 518 237-2163 @ 300-2400 bps 8N1 $free         ` | /    
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Newsgroups: alt.drugs