Annex 2 provides a list of essential references. Some sources are commercial and independent, others are non-commercial. Sources of Information Following is a list of the sources of information covered in this section. You can choose to read through the Guide, or alternatively, use the hypertext link for any of these sources. Medical journals Verbal information Drug information centres Computerized information Pharmaceutical industry sources of information Reference books Reference books can cover general or clinical pharmacology, or specialize in a particular aspect.
Good equivalents exist in other languages.
An important criterion in choosing reference books is the frequency of new editions. The Extra Pharmacopoeia is an excellent reference book with detailed drug information on most active substances and chemicals. However, it does not distinghuish between essential and non-essential drugs and does not contain comparative therapeutic information. Avery s Drug Treatment is a more specialized book, appropriate for prescribers with a special interest in clinical pharmacology. Another example of a specialized textbook is Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs , which provides an annually updated assessment of side effects of drugs reported worldwide.