Look inside the book: Nursing 2025-2026 Drug Handbook

How to use Nursing2025–2026 Drug Handbook ® The best-selling nursing drug guide for 45 years, Nursing Drug Handbook is meticulously re

groupings of drugs—antacids, antidiarrheals, laxatives, vitamins and minerals, additional OTC drugs, common combination drugs, anti dotes, ophthalmic drugs, biologicals and blood derivatives, and less commonly used drugs. Introductory chapters Chapter 1, “Drug actions, interactions, and reactions,” explains how drugs work in the body. It provides a general overview of drug properties (absorption, distribution, metabo lism, and excretion) and other significant fac tors that affect drug action (including protein binding, patient age, underlying disease, dosage form, and route and timing of administration). Also discussed are drug interactions, adverse reactions, and toxic reactions. Chapter 2, “Drug therapy across the lifespan,” covers the unique challenges of giving drugs to children and older adults and offers practical suggestions on how to minimize problems with these special popu lations. This chapter also discusses the danger associated with indiscriminate use of drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding and the special precautions women should take when medications are necessary. Chapter 3, “Safe drug administration,” explores the ongoing involvement of governmental and nongovern mental organizations in drug safety issues and the necessary measures nurses must take to prevent medication errors from occurring. Drug monographs Each generic drug monograph in the Nursing2025–2026 Drug Handbook includes the most pertinent clinical information nurses must know to administer medications safely, monitor for potential interactions and adverse effects, implement necessary care measures, and provide appropriate patient teaching. Entries are arranged alphabetically, with the generic drug name prominently displayed—along with its ISMP “tall man” lettering (if applicable), pronunciation, corresponding brand (or trade) names, therapeutic class, and pharmacologic class—on a shaded background for quick and easy identification. This highlighted area also includes banners or symbols to identify drugs that warrant a special safety alert or to desig nate biosimilar drugs. Specific information for each drug is then systematically organized under the headings below. Special icons and logos are used

viewed and updated by pharmacists and nurses to include the most current, relevant informa tion that practicing nurses and students need to know to administer medications safely in any health care setting. As in previous editions, Nursing2025–2026 Drug Handbook emphasizes nursing and safety aspects of drug administra tion without attempting to replace detailed pharmacology texts. Only the most essential information is included, and helpful graphic symbols, logos, and highlighting draw special attention to critical details that nurses shouldn’t overlook. Outstanding features The 45th edition provides a wealth of the latest drug information right at your fingertips: ⦁ Tabbed “New drugs” section that ensures quick access to 24 completely new drug mono graphs introduced in this edition ⦁ The latest information on thousands of ge neric, brand, and combination drugs included in 670 comprehensive drug monographs and 10 appendices ⦁ Drug safety always at the forefront, including prominently displayed safety alerts, drug warn ings, and Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) “tall man” lettering to help differentiate similarly spelled drug names—plus a special chapter on safe drug administration with up dated guidelines on administration of opioid analgesics, prevention and treatment of IV extravasation injury, safe handling of hazardous drugs, and best practices to ensure patient safety and reduce drug errors ⦁ Special logos and symbols throughout to emphasize FDA boxed warnings, clinical alerts, new indications, necessary dosage adjustments, overdose signs and symptoms, off-label uses, drugs that shouldn’t be crushed or chewed, over-the-counter drugs, biosimilar drugs, Canadian drugs, look alike–sound alike drugs, and the dialyzability status of each drug ⦁ Genetic symbols pinpointing monographs and specific genetic-related information to help select and guide drug therapy ⦁ “Pregnancy-lactation-reproduction” section in each monograph that captures all relevant information in one convenient place ⦁ Thoroughly updated appendices containing indications and dosages of various classes and

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