United States Pharmacopeia, an organization that is over 170 years old, "promotes the public health by establishing and disseminating officially recognized standards of quality and authoritative information for the use of medicines and other health care technologies by health professionals, patients, and consumers." The site contains information on standards development for drugs and dosage (including a searchable USP Reference Standards Catalog), a practitioners reporting network including information on medication errors and drug quality reports, and information about USP products and publications. USP is highlighted, however, by its Drug Information section, which contains: Standard Elements, a searchable and browsable database of descriptions, precautions, and side effects of over 750 generic drugs; medication counseling behavior guidelines; Quality Review, a bimonthly case studies review; and Just Ask!, a set of consumer brochures on proper medicine use, accidental poisoning, and understanding medications.
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