What is a pharmacopoeia?

A pharmacopoeia is an official publication that provides a comprehensive listing of medicinal drugs, including their definitions, descriptions, and standards for quality, purity, potency, and dosage forms. It serves as a critical reference for healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and regulatory authorities, ensuring that medicines meet the necessary safety and efficacy criteria. Pharmacopoeias often include detailed monographs for individual drugs, which outline the testing methods and specifications needed to confirm the identity and quality of the substances.

This resource is vital for the proper manufacturing and regulation of pharmaceuticals, playing a crucial role in setting the framework for drug standards and practices in various countries or regions. Oral and written references may also guide research and development in the pharmaceutical industry by providing established benchmarks for drug formulation and testing.