Examination of Drugs (Revised 6th edition)

Drugs can be broadly divided into two types.
Prescription Drugs…Drugs purchased based on a doctor's prescription
Over-the-counter drugs (over-the-counter drugs)…Drugs that can be purchased at pharmacies and drugstores because sales are not based on prescriptions

In addition, pharmaceutical products have a general name given to active ingredients and a sales name (product name) given to products.
Here are some reference materials and Internet sites to find out these medicines.

4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1 (Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center / Edited, Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1
Contains almost all items of ethical drugs. Based on the attached document*1, the efficacy and effect, usage / dosage, precautions for use (contraindication / side effects), etc. are posted.

“Therapies Manual” (Yoshio Yazaki / Supervised, Medical Shoin, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1

A collection of pharmaceuticals based on the latest attached document information. Features, efficacy, usage, cautions and contraindications, dynamics, structural formulas, etc. of each drug are described. Clinical commentary is also substantial, and it is a standard material for doctors and pharmacists.

"Today's Remedy" (Koji Izutsu / Edited, Minamikodo, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1

In addition to commentary by a specialist for each medicinal group, the characteristics, efficacy, usage, precautions and contraindications, dynamics, childhood doses, etc. of each drug are described in a table format handbook. This is also a standard material for doctors and pharmacists, but it is easy for the general public to understand.

“Remedy Handbook Drug Selection and Prescription Points” (Masatsugu Hori / Edited, Jiho, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1

There are explanations on the use of therapeutic drugs for each medicinal effect and comparisons and classifications of each drug. An emphasis is placed on comparisons between the same medicinal drugs, and the description of OTC*3 corresponding to drug handbooks is provided.

Yes, there is.

"The Encyclopedia of Medicine for Nurse" (Osamu Hosoya / Edited, Herusu Publishing, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1
It is a material written for nursing students and nurses, but it is easy for the general public to understand. In addition to usage, side effects, precautions for use, etc.
"Points for guidance to patients and families" etc. are clearly specified, and the points for using drugs are summarized in a compact manner.　

"Generic Drug List Search by Product Name / General Name" (Pharmaceutical Information Research Institute / Production, Jiho, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1　
Generic drugs (generic drugs * 2) are written and arranged so that they can be drawn by the name of the original or representative drug. Dental medications are not included.

"JAPIC Drug Collection Drug Identification Code List" (Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center / Edited, Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1

Identification symbols (consisting of numbers and alphabets) on the main body or packaging material of the drug. Information such as product name (company name), general name, medicinal efficacy, standard, and drug shape from the identification code).

You can check it. Among the drugs listed in the JAPIC ethical drug collection, items with identification codes and packaging codes are listed in the attached document.　

※There is also an identification code index in the "Treatment Manual" (existed).

＊1 Attached documents: A document attached to a drug for the purpose of providing necessary information when using a drug based on the "Law Concerning Quality, Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices" (Pharmaceutical Machinery Law).

＊2 Generic Drugs: Drugs that are released after the exclusive sales period (patent period, etc.) of the original drug have expired, and have the same active ingredients as the original drug and have the same efficacy, effect, dosage, and usage are called generic drugs. Since the efficacy and safety of the original drug are considered to have been probable during the exclusive sales period of the original drug, it is approved without clinical trials. A major advantage is that it is cheaper than the original drug.
[References] "Hirokawa Pharmaceutical Sciences Dictionary Fifth Edition Spread Edition" (Edited by the Dictionary of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Edition, Hirokawa Shoten, 2013)
　 　　　　　“Dictionary for Pharmacology” (Pharmaceutical Society of Japan / edition, Tokyo Chemical Dojin, 2012)

JAPIC Over-the-counter Drug Collection (Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center / Edited, Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center, published every year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1

About 10,000 items of over-the-counter drugs (including placement drugs) sold at pharmacies in Japan are edited using the attached documents as a source of information. This is a basic document related to over-the-counter drugs in Japan.　

"OTC Pharmaceutical Encyclopedia" (Japan OTC Drug Information Study Group / Edited, Jiho, published every other year) 4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1

This includes major OTC drugs*3 and approximately 2,200 new designated quasi-drugs sold at pharmacies and drug stores. Although the number of recordings is small, it is edited in an easy-to-understand manner using a lot of color illustrations and photographs for the purpose of explaining to consumers by drug experts. It is characterized by a wealth of indexes and symptom-specific indexes.　

＊3 OTC drugs: Abbreviation of "over the counter" (available through counters such as pharmacies), it is a drug that can be purchased at pharmacies and drug stores without a doctor's prescription. Among them, drugs that have been converted (switched) from active ingredients used as prescription drugs to OTC drugs are called switch OTC drugs.
[References] "Hirokawa Pharmaceutical Sciences Dictionary Fifth Edition Spread Edition" (Edited by the Dictionary of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Edition, Hirokawa Shoten, 2013)

4th floor, Reference Book, 499.1 (Jiho, published every year)
The drug price, efficacy and effect, usage and dosage, contraindication and combination contraindication, and treatment of insurance (Summary of Notification of the Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) are posted for claims (medical fee claim statement) business.

"Insurance drug encyclopedia Plus + Drug Price Standards Adaptation and Usage" (Pharmatical Research Group / Edited, Jiho, published twice a year) 4th floor, Reference Book, 499.1

Pharmaceuticals listed in the drug price standard are listed in order of general name for each drug effect. You can also find the distinction between adaptive and usage information, biological products and specific biological products.

＊You can also check the drug price in each document introduced in 1-2.
The price of the medicine used for insurance medical treatment is set as the "drug price", and the price is determined for each drug. After the new drug is approved, the price is determined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and is included in the price list called the "medicine price standard".
The price of the drug itself remains the same at any pharmacy. However, various fees such as "dispensing technology fee" and "pharmacological management fee" are added to the actual accounting. Even though you receive the same medicine, the price changes depending on the pharmacy because the "dispensing technology fee" and "pharmacological management fee" may vary depending on the pharmacy.
[References] "The latest structure and basic structure of medical expensesmedical expenses is clearly explained!　5th edition (Introduction to Illustration Business)　
　　　　　　(Tetsuo Ito / edited by Hitoshi Morita / edited by Hidekazu System, 2024)　

Chinese herbal medicines can also be found in the "JAPIC Prescription Drug Collection" and "JAPIC Over-the-counter Drug Collection" introduced in 1 and 2.
You can also check the following materials.

The 4th floor, Reference Book, 499.8, “Chinese medicine 294 Prescription for Prescription to Operation, Second Edition” (Yukio Nemoto / Supervised, Jiho, 2021)

All crude drugs used in Chinese medicine prescriptions (294 types), which are approved as over-the-counter drugs in Japan, are explained in terms of production areas, ingredients, and effects of mixing.　

Side effects can be confirmed in the attached document. You can also see each of the materials introduced in 1 and 2. The following materials will be helpful for contraindication and drinking.

4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1 (Pharmaceutical Information Institute / Edited, Jiho, published every year)
Prescription drugs that contain warnings and contraindications in the attached document, and describe contraindications, in principle contraindications, contraindications, contraindications in combination, contraindication in principle, serious side effects, etc. At the end of the book, there is a list of interactions between pharmaceuticals and foods, foods, luxury items, etc., which can be used as a reference when taking them.

4th floor, Medical Information, 499.1 (Michiko Yamanaka / edited, Natsumesha, 2022)
It is a book that summarizes whether medicines that are commonly used for treatment can be used for pregnant women and nursing women, according to disease. A list of drugs that allows you to check the safety of drugs from evaluations using various classification methods is also posted.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (outside site)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/index.html
Contents recommended for the general public of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (external site)
https://www.pmda.go.jp/pnavi-01.html
Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center iyakuSearch (outside site)
https://iyakusearch.japic.or.jp
Proper use of medicine council bookmarks (outside site)
https://www.rad-ar.or.jp/siori/index.html
Japan OTC Drug Association Kusuri Search (outside site)
https://search.jsm-db.info/main2.php
Japanese Generic Drugs and Biosimilar Society Kanja's Medicine Box (outside site)
https://www.generic.gr.jp
Confirmation slip (outside site) of Chinese medicine prescription prepared by the Japan Kampo Pharmaceutical Association
https://www.nikkankyo.org/kampo/kampo2.htm

National Diet Library Research Navi

• Investigating ethical drugs (outside site)

　　https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/rnavi/stm/post_439

• Check over-the-counter drugs (over-the-counter drugs) (outside site)

　　https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/rnavi/stm/post_438

• Investigating Chinese herbal medicines and herbal medicines (outside site)

　　https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/rnavi/stm/post_400125

This list does not recommend specific drugs or organizations.

In addition, ask a medical institution for judgment on diagnosis, treatment, medicine, etc.

At Chuo-toshokan, we help you with research and problem solving.
Please feel free to contact us using the application form on each floor counter, telephone, or website.
Click here for the reference application form.
（https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kurashi/kyodo-manabi/library/shirabemono/referance.html）