Book Reviews/PharmaceuticaActa Helvetiae69 (1994)51-54
The Pharmaceutical Codex
The Pharmaceutical Codex, Principles and Practice of
Pharmaceutics, Twelfth Edition. W. Lund (Ed.). The
Pharmaceutical Press, London, 1994, 1100 pp., ISBN 0
85369 290 4, DM 362.-.
Pharmaceutical practice has changed considerably
in the last decade. Drugs have become more and more
complicated on all levels of hierarchy. Starting from
the design process by knowledge of the detailed steps
of molecular pharmacologic action through the kinet-
ics, stability and metabolism, to side effects, storage
and handling. All these different steps have increased
in complexity and need explaning to the patient and
other healthcare professionals. The pharmacist is the
person to provide this information. Where does the
pharmacist get it from? From the CODEX!
This book has been made to provide the knowledge
of the scientific basis of pharmacy and the recent
developments in that field. How has this been achieved?
The book is divided into two parts, the first one
dealing with "Preparation and Presentation of Drugs
as Medicines", the second one is entitled "Mono-
graphs on Drug Substances". The first part is subdi-
vided into six sections covering dosage forms, product
design, preparation and supply of medicines, phar-
maceutical microbiology, sterile processing and con-
tamination control, electrolyte replacement, nutrient
fluids and dialysis solutions, as well as nomenclature.
The second part presents 154 drug monographs in
alphabetical order, drawn from the files of the Pharma-
ceutics Division of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in
Edinburgh, each of one page length at least. Most of
these active substances are included in the WHO Model
List of Essential Drugs.
A typical monograph comprises all sorts of informa-
tion needed for a short characterization of the respec-
tive drug. It begins with chemical information such as
structure, molecular weights, formula and nomencla-
ture. After that the pharmacopoeial status is given as a
very important source of further data. This is followed
Elsevier Science B.V.
SSDI 0031-6865(94)00018-Q
53
by a listing of compendial and non-compendial prepa-
rations, containers and storage and dosage forms. This
first quick profile is then continued by more detailed
information in the subsections physical properties, sta-
bility, incompatibility/compatibility and formulation.
At the end of each monograph a list of about ten
references is given, which provide further information
on details. The length of the monograph varies with
the importance of the drug, probably with the fie-
quency of application. Thus, for Aspirin six pages are
given with about 80 references. This shows the up-to-
date knowledge that is provided and the competence of
the authors.
The chapters in each section of the first part broadly
encompass the pharmaceutics contents of the syllabus
for pharmacy undergraduates and also provides sup-
port for the continuing education of graduates. Careful
illustrations accompany the text and an extensive refer-
ence section closes every chapter. Even homoeopathic
pharmacy is outlined on two and a half pages providing
almost every technical instruction for homoeopathic
medicines.
What may be interesting to add in future editions, is
some more information on the mode of action. Mostly,
only one single expression is given in the monographs,
as "central nervous stimulant". Known molecular phar-
macology information on receptor antagonism or ago-
nism may also be important for the practising pharma-
cist.
Thirty-one experts have contributed to this book on
more than 1100 pages of valuable, topical and relevant
scientific information. Therefore, the book is really
worth the money and I recommend it for the book
shelf of every pharmacist.
G. Folkers
Dept. of Pharmacy
ETH Ziirich,
Switzerland