Formulary

How it is used

Hospital pharmacists manage the formulary, and drugs are described as 'on formulary' or 'non-formulary'. New drugs are added through a drugs and therapeutics committee. The word also appears in reference books such as the British National Formulary (BNF). In the US, insurers' formularies decide which drugs they pay for.

Example sentences

1. That antibiotic isn't on our hospital formulary, so we'll need approval from microbiology.

2. Let me check the formulary for the recommended alternative.

Common collocations

• hospital formulary
• on formulary
• non-formulary drug
• formulary committee

Related terms

• generic drugA medicine with the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and effect as an original branded medicine, usually sold after the original's patent has expired.
• marketing authorisationThe official permission from a medicines regulator that allows a company to sell a medicine for specific uses, doses and patient groups.
• prescriptionA written or electronic order from a doctor or other authorised prescriber that tells the pharmacist which medicine to supply and how the patient should use it.
• antibioticA medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing, used to treat or prevent bacterial infections; antibiotics do not work against viruses.

More terms: Regulation and Medication Safety

• over-the-counter
• brand name
• controlled drug
• pharmacovigilance
• bioequivalence
• GMP
• medication error