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Medx

Tag: Drug standards

Explore our medication guides and pharmacology articles within this category.

Understanding Who Establishes Drug Standards in the U.S. and Beyond

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3 min read
The safety and efficacy of medications are ensured by a multi-layered system of oversight, with federal data indicating that millions of adverse event reports have been submitted for analysis over the years. A key question often asked is, **who establishes drug standards** and what roles do different organizations play to protect public health?

When Did USP and NF Merge? The 1975 Consolidation Explained

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2 min read
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) officially purchased the National Formulary (NF) on January 2, 1975, consolidating two separate compendia into a single, comprehensive volume for drug standards. This pivotal moment in pharmaceutical history combined the standards for both finished drug products and excipients into one authoritative resource.

What's the difference between USP and NF?

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3 min read
Excipients, or inactive ingredients, can comprise up to 90% of a medication's formulation [1.6.4, 1.6.6]. This highlights the importance of understanding the standards that govern them, but what's the difference between USP and NF, the two main compendia?