The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7284 p131
31 January 2004

Pharmaceutical scientists will welcome this latest revision and expansion

'Handbook of pharmaceutical excipients', 4th edition, edited by Raymond C. Rowe, Paul J. Sheskey and Paul J. Weller. Pp xxii+776. Price £195. London and Washington DC: Pharmaceutical Press and American Pharmaceutical Association; 2003. ISBN 0 85369 472 9

This widely used reference text has expanded from 145 monographs in the first edition in 1986 to 250 in this new fourth edition. In this latest revision, all the existing monographs have been updated by their authors and 40 new monographs have been added. The list of contributors totals more than 100, with authors coming mainly from academia and the pharmaceutical industry in the US and UK.

Each monograph is presented systematically and is a compilation of essential data from a variety of reference sources on the physical and chemical properties of the excipients, their uses, safety and associated handling precautions. Where appropriate, scanning electron micrographs are included to illustrate the external form of solid excipients. Although following a specified format, the monographs vary in length from between two and four pages and often include additional useful information in the form of comments from the authors.

Each monograph contains lists (often extensive) of both specific and general references to the literature relating to the properties and applications of the excipient in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Finding information in such a detailed compendium is simplified by the layout and the comprehensive index, which allows identification of excipients by their chemical, non-proprietary or trade name. This well-established handbook is a valuable source of information on excipients for pharmaceutical scientists who I am sure will welcome this latest revision and expansion.

David Attwood

David Attwood is professor of pharmacy at the University of Manchester