The Tarascon ePharmacopoeia is the complete and upgraded electronic version
of its popular pocket medication guide. Not only that but it is free at Medscape.
The ePharmacopoeia is organized extremely well. Tabs down the left side of
the opening page allow the user look up medications via drug class, by drug
name, or by common drugs that the user has selected. Searching by class of
drug is extremely efficient and systematic. However, searching by drug name
was less user friendly. Unlike ePocrates
after putting in a few letters, the medication list will scroll down but not
highlight the drug name. The user is forced to scan approximately 12 medications
to find the one desired. Of particular interest is the tab labeled common.
This function allows the user to list medications that are used frequently
and find them quickly. The top tab is labeled tables. Within the tables are
lists of useful information such as medications commonly used during pregnancy,
inhaler colors, and emergency contraception.
Each medication page has the same abbreviations and symbols that Tarascon
users have come to understand. Medication pages automatically opens to the
adult doses with abbreviations for the method of metabolism, pregnancy category,
safety in lactation, DEA controlled substance, and cost across the top. For
those who are unfamiliar with Tarascon symbols, selecting the category will
provide the user with the symbol translation. Across the bottom are tabs for
pediatricss, forms, notes by Tarascon, personal notes, and a little skull
and cross bones symbolizes warnings. There is even an Rx symbol that is set
up for future prescription writing software.
There are a few things that I would change about the ePharmacopoeia. Frist,
I would have a drug/drug interaction function that would list interactions
between medications. Second, I would have liked the information on each medication
page to be better spread out, everything was crammed together like the Pocket
Pharmacopoeia making it difficult to find the desired information in a timely
fashion. Third, I would have liked to set preferences so that I could choose
my own set up of the program.
Overall this is a great reference tool. It expedites the process of searching
out proper medication doses and other necessary information. I think the search
by drug class is superior to its competitor ePocrates,
but on most other levels ePocrates
is superior.
To find out more about Tarascon EPharmacopoeia go to Medscape.com.