Best Pharmaceutical Drug Guides of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: May 9, 2023

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Pharmaceutical drug guides are essential resources for patients and healthcare professionals alike. These guides provide comprehensive information about prescription and over-the-counter medications, including their uses, dosages, potential side effects, and interactions with other drugs. They are an important tool for ensuring safe and effective medication use, as well as for helping patients make informed decisions about their healthcare. With easy-to-understand language and clear organization, pharmaceutical drug guides are an invaluable resource for anyone seeking reliable information about medications.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Nursing2023 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbook) Cover #TOP 1
Nursing2023 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbook)
ftb score rating icon 9.8
2023 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses Cover #TOP 2
2023 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference (Skidmore Nursing Drug Reference) Cover #TOP 3
Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference (Skidmore Nursing Drug Reference)
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Pharmaceutical Drug Guides

Nursing2023 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbook)

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
May 14, 2022
Nursing2023 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbook) Cover
Nursing2023 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbook)

The Nursing2023 Drug Handbook is a comprehensive guide that provides evidence-based drug monographs for nearly 3700 generic, brand-name, and combination drugs. The book is organized alphabetically and includes a "New Drugs" section, making it easy to check drug facts on the spot. It also comes with a pill guide insert with full-color photos of commonly prescribed tablets and capsules. The monthly updates on Lippincott® NursingCenter® deliver the latest FDA information, and the nearly 30 appendices cover various topics such as pregnancy risk categories and understanding biosimilar drugs. Overall, this book is an essential resource for preventing medication errors and providing optimal patient care.

2023 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Oct 26, 2022
2023 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses Cover
2023 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses

The 2023 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses is an essential resource for nursing students and practitioners. With more than 3,900 medication monographs, the guide provides comprehensive information on generic and trade names, drug classes, pregnancy risk, dosages, adverse effects, drug interactions, nursing considerations, and patient teaching. The guide is updated with 24 new FDA-approved drugs and comprehensive content updates to ensure effective outcomes. The book's A-to-Z organization, appendices, and indexed generic and trade names save time and provide instant access to the necessary drug information. The guide's special section on patient safety and medication administration also alerts readers to important considerations for safe nursing practice. Overall, the guide is an excellent resource for anyone in the nursing profession.

Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference (Skidmore Nursing Drug Reference)

Skidmore-Roth RN MSN NP, Linda
Jul 5, 2022
Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference (Skidmore Nursing Drug Reference) Cover
Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference (Skidmore Nursing Drug Reference)

Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference is a reliable drug handbook for nurses with over 5,000 drugs that are profiled, including 35 new entries for recently FDA-approved drugs. The book's emphasis on patient safety sets it apart from other drug guides, featuring Black Box Warnings for dangerous adverse reactions and Safety Alerts for situations requiring special attention. The book is organized alphabetically by generic name and includes pharmacokinetic information, drug categories, and IV drug administration instructions. Overall, this book is an essential reference for nurses who want to ensure patient safety when administering drugs.

Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple

Preston Psy.D. ABPP, John
Moore Psy.D. ABPP, Bret A.
Johnson M.D., James
MedMaster
Sep 15, 2019
Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple Cover
Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple

Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple is a concise and practical guide to the use of psychotropic medications in treating mental and emotional disorders. The book provides a thorough understanding of pharmacological agents and their indications in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. Ideal for healthcare professionals and students, the book is authored by John Preston, who is an expert in psychopharmacology and has authored over 21 books. His strength lies in presenting complex information in an easy-to-understand way. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to master medical knowledge in a quick and effective way.

Clinical Pharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple, 5th Edition: An Incredibly Easy Way to Learn for Medical, Nursing, Physician Assistant, And Pharmacy Students (MedMaster Medical Books)

Olson M.D. Ph.D., James
MedMaster
Sep 1, 2019
Clinical Pharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple, 5th Edition: An Incredibly Easy Way to Learn for Medical, Nursing, Physician Assistant, And Pharmacy Students (MedMaster Medical Books) Cover
Clinical Pharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple, 5th Edition: An Incredibly Easy Way to Learn for Medical, Nursing, Physician Assistant, And Pharmacy Students (MedMaster Medical Books)

Clinical Pharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple, 5th Edition is an incredibly helpful book for medical, nursing, physician assistant, and pharmacy students. The book uses visual cues to break down pharmacology into simpler concepts, making it easy to understand complex subjects and develop critical thinking skills. This book offers a concise overview of the most important principles in clinical pharmacology, with drug comparisons in clear chart format. The text surrounding the tables emphasizes key issues pertaining to therapeutic rationale, basic pharmacologic principles, and clinical use of drugs. Overall, this book is an ideal resource for healthcare students and professionals who want to master medical knowledge in a simple, effective, and quick way.

Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists

Preston PsyD Abpp, John D
O'Neal MD, John H
Talaga Rph PhD, Mary C
Moore PsyD Abpp, Bret A
New Harbinger Publications
Jan 2, 2021
Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists Cover
Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists

The Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists is a comprehensive resource for mental health clinicians seeking clear, reliable information about pharmacological treatment of mental health issues. The book is organized by disorder and medication, and is designed to familiarize clinicians and students with the basic terminology and models of psychopharmacology. The ninth edition provides essential information on new medications and treatment options, including the latest research on side effects, contraindications, and efficacy. This book is an important resource for every therapist's library, and has been adopted as a textbook at universities nationwide.

#TOP 7

140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology

Haws, Jon
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Feb 18, 2015
140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology Cover
140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology

If you're a nursing student struggling with pharmacology, "140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology" is the book for you. This book focuses on the most commonly tested and prescribed medications, providing critical points to know about them. The flashcard format and detailed outlines make it easy to understand and differentiate between difficult medications. With hundreds of pages of vital facts, this book takes the guesswork out of your studies and allows you to focus on what you need to know. Overall, this book is an essential tool for nursing students who want to ace their pharmacology courses and feel confident when distributing medications.

Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians: Master Calculations The Safe & Easy Way Without Formulas

Wojcik PharmD, Bradley J.
Spotlight Media
Aug 19, 2020
Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians: Master Calculations The Safe & Easy Way Without Formulas Cover
Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians: Master Calculations The Safe & Easy Way Without Formulas

This book, Pharmacy Calculations for Pharmacy Technicians: Master Calculations The Safe & Easy Way Without Formulas, is a comprehensive guide for pharmacy technicians to master calculations without the need for complex formulas. The book is divided into eight units with 33 chapters and over 400 practice problems. It covers essential skills such as the metric system, ratios, and dimensional analysis, as well as more complex topics such as IV flow rate calculations and concentrations/dilutions/reconstitution calculations. This book is an excellent resource for pharmacy technicians to improve their skills and ensure the safe administration of medications.

Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2018 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition

Hamilton, Richard J.
Tarascon
Dec 1, 2017
Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2018 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition Cover
Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2018 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition

The Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2018 Classic Shirt-Pocket Edition is a must-have portable drug reference for any clinician who needs quick access to vital drug information at the point of care. It includes FDA-approved drug dosing, available trade and generic formulations, safety in pregnancy and lactation, and much more. The 2018 edition has been updated with new drug information, FDA guideline updates, and the removal of discontinued drugs and outdated dosing information. With meticulous peer-review by experts and available in multiple print, mobile, and digital formats, this book is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals. Overall, it is a comprehensive and useful tool for any clinician who needs to make informed decisions about drug therapy.

Elsevier’s 2023 Intravenous Medications

Collins PharmD, Shelly Rainforth
Elsevier
Aug 2, 2022
Elsevier’s 2023 Intravenous Medications Cover
Elsevier’s 2023 Intravenous Medications

Elsevier’s 2023 Intravenous Medications is a comprehensive guide for administering more than 400 intravenous drugs. The book provides complete and accurate drug information in a quick-access format. It includes updated drug uses, interactions, precautions, alerts, and patient teaching instructions for all current IV drugs. The book is ideal for use in critical care areas, nursing stations, offices, and public health and home care settings. The book is organized in an A-to-Z format, and its spiral binding allows the book to lie flat. Overall, this book is an essential resource for health professionals who need reliable drug information.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What books are required in a pharmacy?

Top 15 Pharmacy Textbooks Every Serious Pharmacy Student Should Own. Applied Therapeutics (10th edition)Pharmacotherapy (8th edition)Applied Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics (6th edition)Ansel's Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms & Drug Delivery System (11th edition)Concepts in Sterile Preparations and Aspetic Technique.

Editor's Notes

During our pharmaceutical drug guide research, we found 1,200+ pharmaceutical drug guide products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 24,034 customer reviews through our big data system to write the pharmaceutical drug guides list. We found that most customers choose pharmaceutical drug guides with an average price of $29.06.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.