The British Pharmacopoeia (BP) is the official publication of the United Kingdom and contains authoritative information and guidelines for the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines used in the country. The latest edition, British Pharmacopoeia 2018, was published in August 2017 and became effective from 1st January 2018. It consists of two volumes and a separate veterinary volume.
The BP provides quality standards for medicinal products and their ingredients in the form of monographs. A monograph is a detailed description of a substance or product, including its identity, purity, strength, and any tests that should be performed to ensure its quality. The BP includes monographs for pharmaceutical substances, preparations, and dosage forms, as well as for herbal and traditional medicines, excipients, and apparatus.
The introduction of a new format for monographs is one of the key developments in BP 2018. The new style is intended to promote clarity, uniformity, and convenience of use for BP users. The monographs now feature a summary section that offers a rapid overview of the essential information in the monograph, such as the substance's name, formula, and applications. The remaining sections of the monograph address the identification, purity, assay, and tests for specific impurities or contaminants.
Updated monographs for numerous key medications, including paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin, are also included in the BP 2018. The monographs give thorough information on these chemicals' identification, purity, and assay, as well as any tests that should be done to confirm their quality. The monographs have been revised to reflect the most recent scientific knowledge and technology, ensuring that these regularly used compounds satisfy the highest quality requirements.
The addition of new monographs for various novel and developing pharmaceuticals, including biological medicines and biosimilars, is another noteworthy shift in the BP 2018. These monographs give recommendations on the quality, safety, and efficacy of these medications, assisting in ensuring that they meet the highest standards before being made available to patients.
The BP 2018 also includes updated guidelines for the preparation and use of medicines in different settings, such as hospitals and community pharmacies. The guidelines cover various aspects of medicine preparation and use, such as the handling and storage of medicines, the preparation of sterile products, and the administration of medicines. In addition to the printed version, the BP is also available as an electronic version, which allows users to access the information and guidelines quickly and easily. The electronic version includes search tools, interactive features, and links to relevant information, making it an invaluable resource for pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and other users of the BP.
Overall, the British Pharmacopoeia 2018 is a must-have resource for anybody involved in the creation, production, regulation, or administration of pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom. The journal provides extensive and authoritative recommendations on the quality, safety, and efficacy of medications and their constituents, assisting in the delivery of the best possible care to patients. The implementation of a new monograph format, as well as the inclusion of updated and new monographs for developing medications and chemicals, ensures that the BP 2018 remains a current and helpful resource for many years to come.
The British Pharmacopoeia (BP) 2018 supersedes the BP 2017 and becomes legally effective on 1 January 2018. This edition incorporates new BP and European Pharmacopoeia monographs and a significant number of revised monographs. To ensure you get the best value access to the information you need, there are a range of flexible licenses, formats and package options available to choose from.
New for the 2018 BP:
- 35 new BP monographs, 39 new Ph. Eur. monographs
- 185 amended BP monographs
- Four new monographs for unlicensed formulations
- Four new monographs for herbal medicines
- Six new monographs for veterinary medicines
- All European Pharmacopoeia monographs integrated (9th Edition as amended by Supplements 9.1 to 9.2)
- Three in-year website and offline download updates to harmonize with the European Pharmacopoeia Supplements 9.3, 9.4 and 9.5
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