Abstract

The fifth edition of our flagship publication (Palliative Care Formulary) is now available.  As well as including updated monographs, this new edition also contains selected information from Symptom Management in Advanced Cancer, which will be discontinued towards the end of 2014. Since the publication of PCF4 in 2011, every drug monograph has been reviewed and updated. Two new chapters cover variability in response to drugs (replaces chapter on Cytochrome P450) and the drug treatment of pruritus. To aid comparison, several sets of drug monographs have been streamlined into single generic monographs, notably Bisphosphonates, Cannabinoids, Haemostatics, LMWH, Opioid antagonists, Psychostimulants. Although written primarily with cancer patients in mind, PCF5 contains specific material relating to several other life-limiting diseases e.g. COPD, congestive heart failure, renal failure, and Parkinson\'s disease. PCF also includes a number of Quick Prescribing Guides and Quick Clinical Guides.