Quality
Research overview
Behind every pack of medicine there are quality standards that describe what the product should be and how to verify it. A collection of such standards is called a pharmacopoeia; in Russia, the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation applies. Here we briefly explain what a pharmacopoeial monograph consists of, and how to tell reliable information about medicines from dubious promises online.
The quality of a medicine is checked before it reaches the pharmacy. The quality of an article about a medicine on the internet, however, is something you have to check yourself.
What a pharmacopoeial monograph is
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Description | What the substance or dosage form should look like: colour, appearance, visible characteristics |
| Identification | How to confirm that the product really contains the substance it claims to |
| Impurities | Which foreign substances are acceptable, within what limits, and how they are detected |
| Assay | How to check that the product contains as much of the active substance as it should |
| Storage | Under what conditions the substance or product keeps its stated quality |
How to check information about a medicine
Look at the source
The official leaflet or the website of a government body or medical organisation is more reliable than a forum, a blog or a forwarded message in a chat app.
Hypothetical example: a tip from a parents' group chat is checked against the leaflet in the box before anything is done.
Check the date
Information about medicines is updated: new safety data appear and leaflets change. A text with no date, or one that is many years old, may be out of date.
Find out who wrote it
If it is unclear who wrote the text and whether they have medical training, treat it as a personal opinion.
Look for a reference to the leaflet
A trustworthy article about a medicine is based on the official leaflet and does not contradict it. If a text recommends something the leaflet does not mention, discuss it with your doctor.
Hypothetical example: an article suggests combining two products, although the leaflet says nothing about it.
Be wary of miracle promises
A promise to cure everything at once, with no side effects and no doctor, is a sign of advertising, not reliable information. Real medicines are not described that way.
Warning signs in texts about medicines
- Promises that a product is “completely safe” and has “no contraindications”
- Advice to stop a treatment prescribed by your doctor in favour of another product
- References to “scientific studies” with no title or place of publication
- Stories of miraculous recovery instead of facts
- An offer to order the product through a link in the article
- Encouragement not to tell your doctor what you are taking
Read next
- Leaflet
How to read the leaflet section by section, how dosage forms differ and what “prescription only” means.
- Sources
What the guide is based on, what it deliberately does not do, and why much of it is written in general terms.
- Glossary
Words from the pack and the leaflet: INN, brand name, dosage form, batch number, contraindications.
Sources
- State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation
- WHO — International Nonproprietary Names (INN) programme
- Package leaflets / instructions for medical use
Information is current as of the preparation date. Rules on medicines, labelling requirements and the procedure for reporting side effects can change — always check the leaflet for your specific medicine and confirm the details with a doctor or pharmacist.