AHFS Drug Information 2026 Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781585287772 ISBN-10: 1585287776 Copyright: 2026 Edition: 1st Author: ASHP, Doody's Expert Review    Score: 100 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Melissa Potts,  BS, PharmD  (Temple University School of Pharmacy) Description This is a comprehensive, evidence-based reference consisting of drug monographs for almost every drug compound available in the United States. With the previous edition having been published in 2025, this newest publication has some unique features and additions. It adds clinical perspective sections that focus on place in therapy and offers guideline-based recommendations. Additionally, it includes expanded coverage of specialty and complex drugs including biologics and high-risk therapies. Purpose The purpose of this book is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based reference for safe and effective drug therapy. It compiles reliable, unbiased drug information in one place. It supports clinical decision-making with therapeutic guidelines and expert-reviewed data. Finally, it helps healthcare professionals select, prescribe, and monitor medications appropriately. It meets its objectives by outlining structured, standardized drug monographs presented in a consistent format, making it easy to find information quickly. Unlike other references, this reference also critically evaluates the literature, allowing healthcare providers to interpret clinically meaningful conclusions. The 2026 edition expands on when a drug should be used, how it compares to alternatives, and where it fits into treatment guidelines. This directly supports clinical decision making, not just reference look up. Audience According to the publishers (i.e., the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists), the audience is primarily healthcare professionals involved in medication use and decision-making. This includes pharmacists, especially clinical and hospital pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who prescribe, dispense, or monitor medications. Learners may also benefit, including pharmacy students, medical and nursing students, and residents and trainees. The reference is meant for professionals who need authoritative, unbiased information, as well as support for clinical decision making. The book also offers these users guidance on safe and effective medication use, including off-label therapies. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), a well-established, nonprofit professional organization representing pharmacists and advancing medication-use safety publishes the book. Clinical pharmacists, drug information specialists, and subject-matter experts in pharmacotherapy develop and review the content. The reference is known for its rigorous editorial process; the information is evidence-based, peer-reviewed and continuously updated. Features Most of the reference consists of detailed monographs for individual drugs, each covering: indications and uses, FDA-approved and off-label, dosage and administration, contraindications and precautions, adverse effects, drug interactions, and pharmacokinetics (e.g., absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion). The book also provides information on therapeutic use and clinical guidance, including place in therapy, comparisons with alternative treatments, and guideline-based recommendations. There is a strong emphasis on safety topics, such as boxed warnings and major precautions, drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, monitoring parameters, safety alerts and risk management strategies. The 2026 edition expands the coverage of biologics and specialty drugs, gene and cell therapies, pharmacogenomics, biosimilars, and orphan drugs. It includes current vaccine information and schedules, which are aligned with public health recommendations. The best features of the book include the trusted, evidence-based information it provides, along with clinical guidance, comprehensive drug detail and a strong focus on drug safety. Some of its limitations are that it is not meant for "real-time" data since it is published annually, it can be less convenient than digital references, the information is detailed and narrative and not always concise, and it can be dense for beginners. Assessment This book is widely regarded as a "gold standard" drug compendium with rigorous review and expert input. It contains comprehensive, unbiased, and evaluated drug information supported by thousands of references and is designed specifically to help clinicians prescribe and monitor drug therapy safely and effectively. It is recommended for pharmacist clinicians, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacy, medical and nursing students, and healthcare institutions. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? N/A 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. N/A 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. N/A 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book N/A 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10 ©2026 Doody Enterprises, Inc.