The Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF) is the national formulary used by pharmacists in Australia, compiled by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. New editions of the APF are released every few years, with the latest edition being the 25th.
History
The APF was originally a pocket-sized booklet first published in 1902, used by physicians as a drugs reference in Australia. In later editions, rather than simply being a listing of pharmaceuticals, medical and clinical information became incorporated within the publication as well, and eventually the title of the APF was extended to the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook.
Content
The APF is divided in a number of sections, with each pertaining to a specific topic. Information includes
Dispensing practice
Cautionary Advisory Labels (CALs) information and recommendations
Good compounding practice
Compounding sterile and hazardous medicines
Extemporaneous formulary
Cold chain management
Clinical drug monographs
Information on complementary medicines
Counseling guides for common ailments
National pharmacy standards and guidelines, and
Physicochemical data of drug constituents.
See also
Australian Medicines Handbook
British Pharmacopoeia
United States Pharmacopeia
Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference
References
External links
Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia