ASHP Releases AHFS Drug Information 2016 Edition

Press Release

ASHP has released a new edition of AHFS Drug Information (AHFS DI), the nation’s leading compendium of unbiased and authoritative drug information.

AHFS DI is the only printed compendium designated by the U.S. Congress as a source for reimbursement of off-label uses. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and numerous healthcare insurance providers recognize it as a definitive reference on the medically accepted uses of drugs. Unlike most compendia, recognition of the authority of AHFS DI in establishing medically accepted drug uses extends far beyond cancer drugs to include the full spectrum of drug therapy. Both the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and the American College of Physicians have listed AHFS DI as a recommended item for inclusion in reference libraries.

The 2016 edition of AHFS DI, which marks 58 years of continuous publication, contains extensively updated monographs and revised therapeutic guidelines, including revised recommendations for the treatment of HIV infections in adult and pediatric patients. It also presents new information on breakthrough oncology drugs approved as part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Accelerated Approval Program.

“AHFS DI is the gold standard for providing the critical, evidence-based data that healthcare practitioners need to make informed prescribing decisions,” said Gerald K. McEvoy, Pharm.D., editor-in-chief of AHFS DI and ASHP assistant vice president of drug information. “The 2016 edition is supported by more than 87,000 references and incorporates the expertise of hundreds of leading health professionals and guidance from numerous authoritative groups, providing the most trustworthy, evidence-based data on which to base therapeutic decisions.”

Each year, AHFS DI expands it database by dozens of new drug monographs and incorporates emerging information on cautions, drug interactions, and therapeutic perspectives. The new 2016 edition includes revised information about:

• Orphan drug products.

• Therapeutic recommendations supported by evidence from primary research.

• Extensive dosage and administration information.

• Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics.

• Prescription, OTC, ophthalmic and dermatologic drugs.

• Extensive off-label uses and related dosing options.

• Vaccines and other immunizing agents.

Drug monographs in AHFS DI are thoroughly researched by drug information pharmacists and professional editorial and analytical staff. Authors incorporate clinical research findings, guidelines, and FDA-approved labeling into the monographs. The information also reflects the expertise of leading medical scientists, physicians, pharmacists, pharmacologists, and other clinicians, and incorporates the latest therapeutic recommendations from groups like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and many others.

AHFS is available in print, and ASHP will soon release the digital version, AHFS Clinical Drug Information. AHFS databases are also available through several partners in mobile and online platforms and can be licensed for use in clinical decision support systems. For more information on AHFS DI or any other items in the AHFS product line, call ASHP Customer Service at (866) 279-0681 or visit www.ahfsdruginformation.com.

About ASHP

ASHP represents pharmacists who serve as patient care providers in acute and ambulatory settings. The organization’s more than 43,000 members include pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. For over 70 years, ASHP has been at the forefront of efforts to improve medication use and enhance patient safety. For more information about the wide array of ASHP activities and the many ways in which pharmacists advance healthcare, visit ASHP’s website, www.ashp.org, or its consumer website, www.SafeMedication.com.