A Message From The Editor

2nd edition 2020 is a product of hard work by a team of professionals including doctors, pharmacists, researchers and enthusiastic individuals who worked hard day and night to bring this book into existence. The main purpose of this book is to provide quick, easy and authentic information on all the drugs available in Pakistan in the most comprehensible way, so that medical and pharmacological students, as well as medical and pharmaceutical professionals, can benefit from its contents.

During the course of compiling this book, the most authentic reference books — including Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference; BNF; Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR); Merck Manual Diagnosis and Therapy, and many others — were referred to and consulted, in order to bring this book up to international standards. Gathering and then verifying every single piece of information available on those medicines was not an easy job. To bring the text in line with international guidelines, all the intricate details were meticulously added, keeping in mind that the licensing requirements of drugs vary from country to country. Since this book is for use in Pakistan, it was necessary to check whether the indications written for a particular medicine in international pharmacopeias and drug reference books are also the licensed indications in Pakistan. In the absence of a Pakistan pharmacopeia, this task became very difficult; however, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry played a vital role in this regard — pharmaceutical companies kept all their drugs' information at our disposal, and all our queries regarding a drug's prescribing information were entertained and resolved at the earliest possible time. For such enthusiastic support and cooperation, I and my team are ever gratuitous and indebted.

In order to keep the book precise and accurate, only the drug's most common side-effects have been mentioned at large, in addition to a brief mention of uncommon and rare side-effects. It is, however, imperative for all users to note that there are numerous others which vary for each person according to their individually unique circumstances — hence close observation and reporting of personal experiences to physicians is very crucial. The precautionary measures and monitoring requirements mentioned under PRECAUTIONS need to be read and followed very carefully in order to avoid situations which may prove detrimental to one's health and well-being.

The information written in the advertisements of the products in the book is not the work of the editorial team; these adverts and their contents are published in good faith as per the wishes of the companies, solely for product branding and promotional purposes. Any discrepancy or error arising from the content of adverts is not, under any circumstances, our liability. Similarly, should there be any discrepancy, error or omission in the prescribing information in the book Pharma Plus, our editorial team, Neeshat Publications and its employees cannot be held liable for the consequences. All information is solely for professional and educational purposes, and this book serves to aid professionals in prescribing the correct medication specific to each individual patient after careful evaluation. Non-medical personnel should not, under any circumstances, attempt self-medication using this book without consulting their physician, as it can lead to serious health hazards that may be irreversible or fatal.

To sum it up, I would like to express my gratitude for all the help and support which made compiling this book possible.