European law (directive 92/27/EEC) requires the use of the Recommended International Non-proprietary Name (rINN) in place of the British Approved Name (BAN). For a small number of drugs these names are different. The Department of Health requires the use of BAN to cease and be replaced by rINN, with the exceptions of adrenaline and noradrenaline. For these two drugs both their BAN and rINN will continue to be used.

The format of this book was chosen to make it more ‘user friendly’ – allowing the information to be readily available to the reader in times of need. For each drug there is a brief introduction, followed by the following categories:

Uses

This is the indication for the drug's use in the critically ill. There will be some unlicensed use included and this will be indicated in brackets.

Contraindications

This includes conditions or circumstances in which the drug should not be used – the contraindications. For every drug, this includes known hypersensitivity to the particular drug or its constituents.

Administration

This includes the route and dosage for a 70 kg adult. For obese patients, estimated ideal body weight should be used in the calculation of the dosage (Appendix D). It also advises on dilutions and situations where dosage may have to be modified. To make up a dilution, the instruction ‘made up to 50 ml with sodium chloride 0.9%’ means that the final volume is 50 ml. In contrast, the instruction ‘to dilute with 50 ml sodium chloride 0.9%’ could result in a total volume >50 ml. It is recommended that no drug should be stored for >24 h after reconstitution or dilution.