Archived E2 FAQ: Prescription medications

This document is not current, and is kept only for archival purposes. Please refer to Everything2 Help for all up-do-date help documents.

The following is a possible standard for writing up medications. You do not have to use this template in any way, it's merely here as a guide and an ideal example of a prescription drug writeup.

A medicine may be searched for by either its generic or brand name, so a unique and separate writeup is needed for each. Different information is needed depending on whether the writeup is for generic or brand-name as well. Brands of the same generic, having different release mechanisms, may differ in dosage and indication. Manufacturers often incorporate special features in a brand-name drug that will not be found in the generic drug. Brand name medicines also commonly use combinations of different drugs to give the desired effect. I have included all the commonly desired information both for the prescriber and for end users. Try and use plain language (eg "muscle breakdown" instead of "rhabdomyolysis") whenever possible.

Included here are the standard forms for both types along with a description of each field, and below each example, the actual source code for both the generic writeup and the brand-name writeup that can be pasted into the new writeup to ease formatting.

Examples can be found at Lipitor / Atorvastatin.

Medication - generic name format

Pharmacologic class

This is the class of medication, such as "opioid" or "calcium-channel blocker", not "antibiotic" or "pain medicine"

Any brand names in which the medicine may be used, either by itself or as a combination. Please hard link these to the brand-name writeup. Also, indicate any country-specific brand names here.

What is the medicine used for - these are the approved uses, not off label uses.

How the medicine works. Does it block certain receptors? Is it a dihydropyridine? Sometimes the actual pharmacology is unknown or speculative.

Any situations where the medicine should not be used.

Any situations where the medicine should be used with caution.

Any medicines or common substances that the medicine interacts with.

Side effects.

Expand on any of the other information, or discuss off-label or investigational usage of the medication here. Basically, any pertinent information can be included here.

When was the information in the writeup last updated?

Generic cut and paste format

<p><strong>Pharmacologic class</strong><br>
<blockquote> (class text) </blockquote>

<strong>Brand Names</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Brand names text) </blockquote>

<strong>Indications</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Indications text) </blockquote>

<strong>Pharmacology</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Pharmacology text) </blockquote>

<strong>Contraindications</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Contraindications text) </blockquote>

<strong>Precautions</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Precautions text) </blockquote>

<strong>Interactions</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Interactions text) </blockquote>

<strong>Adverse Reactions</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Adverse Reactions text) </blockquote>

<strong>Additional Information</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Additional information text) </blockquote>

<strong>Date of most recent Update</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Date text) </blockquote>

<em>Further information is available in the writeup for the brand name(s) of this medication</em></p>

Medication - brand name format

Brand name of generic name (Link to the generic name or names of the drug or drugs present in the brand name medicine here.)

Indications

The approved uses of this medication.

Usual adult doses should be put here. Adjustments, maximum dosages, and other considerations may also be appropriate.

Dosing information for children - or state here if the medicine should not be used in children with age ranges if possible.

Pills, capsules, liquid, injection? What forms, and how much is supplied?

Expand on any of the other information, or discuss off-label or investigational usage of the medication here. Also -specific qualities of the brand name form of the medication can be elaborated on here.

When was the information in the writeup last updated?

Brand-name cut and paste format

<p><strong>Brand name of <em>generic name</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>Indications</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Indications text) </blockquote>

<strong>Dosage for adults</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Dosage for adult text) </blockquote>

<strong>Dosage for children</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Dosage for children text) </blockquote>

<strong>How supplied</strong><br>
<blockquote> (How supplied text) </blockquote>

<strong>Additional Information</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Additional information text) </blockquote>

<strong>Date of most recent Update</strong><br>
<blockquote> (Date text) </blockquote>

<em>Further information is available in the writeup for the generic name(s) of this medication</em></p>

Submitted by Chark

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