Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia: 2003 Deluxe Lab-Coat Pocket Edition

Excellent resource for drug information in a hurry - the most useful aspect for me in my practice is the information as to whether a drug is available in a generic form yet (very handy in these days of two-tiered co-pays). There is a table of comparative efficacies of different lipid-lowering agents. The chart of comparative strength for topical steroids is handy, as is the information on what forms and what size tubes the topicals come in. There is a nice asthma section with tables of expected peak flows, colors of different inhalers (patients never remember the names), and an asthma action plan to give patients. Finally, there is a handy little dermatome drawing and reminders of which nerve root innervates which muscles and reflexes (have to refresh my memory on those every few months).I use Lexi-Comp's Drug Information Handbook often, too - especially for CYP450 interactions and half-lives - but the Tarascon, pound-for-pound, beats it (and Lexi-Comp does not have the generic info).

As indispensable as always, especially for those of us not yet ready for the PDA revolution. As this edition has a glued-end binding to accomodate more pages than the previous fold-and-staple editions, I will be currious to see how it stands up to constant use. So far, so good: it has remained stable for the past month in-and-out of this med-student's pocket.