Otherwise known as the "doctor's prescribing Bible" the British National Formulary (BNF) contains a wide spectrum of information on prescribing and pharmacology, among others indications, side effects and costs of the prescription of all medication drugs available on the National Health Service. Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon (φάρμακον) is drug, and logos (λόγος) is science) is the study of how chemical substances interact with living systems. ... A medical prescription (℞) is a written order by a medical doctor to a pharmacist for a treatment to be provided to the doctors patient. ... A medication is a licenced drug taken to cure or reduce symptoms of an illness or medical condition. ... A drug is any substance that can be used to modify a chemical process or processes in the body, for example to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, enhance a performance or ability, or to alter states of mind. ... The logo of the NHS for England and Wales. ...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the British Medical Association. A new edition is published approximately once every six months. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is the regulatory and professional body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. ... The British Medical Association (BMA) is the professional body to which the vast majority of British doctors belong. ...

A sister volume for paediatric medicine, the British National Formulary for Children (BNF-C), is also produced. Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics or pædiatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants and children. ... The British National Formulary for Children (BNF-C) is the standard UK paediatric reference for prescribing and pharmacology, among others indications, side effects and costs of the prescription of all medication drugs available on the National Health Service. ...

In another languages, one uses Vademecum.

Current editions

As of September 2005 the current edition is v50, ISBN 0853696357.

External links

• BNF