China OTC Medicine Selection Guide

Author: Huang Zhongyi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: This book includes and introduces 325 over-the-counter (OTC) drugs as prescribed by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in 1999. Among these, 165 are Western medicines and 160 are traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Each Western medicine and TCM is available in different dosage forms. The book excludes Western medicine preparations containing phenylpropanolamine, resulting in 161 actual Western medicines. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 introduces Western medicines for OTC use, featuring an "Overview of Common Clinical Conditions for Selecting OTC Western Medicines" and detailed introductions to 161 Western medicines organized into 23 categories. Part 2 covers TCMs for OTC use, including an "Overview of Common Illnesses for Selecting OTC TCMs" and detailed introductions to 160 TCMs organized into 13 categories. To facilitate the selection of OTC medications, the book provides "Selection Overviews" for both Western medicines and TCMs. The Western medicine section is divided into 23 sections based on drug efficacy. Each section includes an overview summarizing the main pharmacological actions, indications, diseases, and key considerations for selecting the medications. Each Western medicine entry, in addition to the name, provides additional details such as synonyms, pharmacological actions, indications, contraindications, dosage forms and specifications, usage and dosage, adverse reactions, and precautions. The TCM section is categorized into 7 therapeutic departments: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Dermatology, and Otolaryngology. Based on actual treatment conditions, these are further divided into 36 categories. Some TCMs have been adjusted in their arrangement order. Each category overview briefly introduces the scope of application for the TCMs in that category and the key differential diagnostic points for selecting various TCMs.