Formularium

Formularium is a term used in medicine and pharmacology to designate a curated collection of drugs, formulations, and related information that are approved for use within a particular organization, system, or jurisdiction. The word derives from Latin, with formula meaning a rule or prescription and -arium indicating a place or collection. In practice, formularium is often treated as a synonym or closely related concept to a formulary, though its usage varies by language and tradition, with some contexts retaining the older or regional terminology.

The primary purpose of a formularium is to standardize prescribing and pharmaceutical practice. By listing approved medicines, dosages, preparation instructions, and indications, it supports safe and consistent treatment, guides therapeutic decisions, and helps manage drug costs and supply. Formularia typically involve oversight by a pharmacy and therapeutics committee or equivalent body, which reviews new evidence, balances clinical value with budget considerations, and updates recommendations accordingly.

Contents and structure of a formularium usually include entries for each medicine or preparation, detailing the active ingredient, strength or concentration, dosage forms, recommended indications, contraindications, potential drug interactions, monitoring requirements, and sometimes procurement or storage notes. Some formularia also provide guidance on compounding, refrigeration, or labeling. In modern health systems, formularia are often maintained in electronic formats within hospital information systems or national health databases to support point-of-care decision making.

See also: formulary, pharmacopoeia, hospital formulary, National Formulary, drug monograph.