No single source answers every medicines question. Product-specific licensed information, treatment recommendations, local formulary decisions, pregnancy evidence, monitoring, formulation details and overdose management belong to different sources. The clinical skill is recognising the question and opening the right layer. This guide maps that stack and links to deeper workflows.
The twelve resources at a glance
| Resource | Best for | Audience | Access | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicable NICE, SPS, local and specialist guidance | Treatment choice, monitoring and implementation | Prescribers | Mostly free or organisation-provided | Scope varies by question and setting |
| iatroX Medicines | Rapid structured orientation, source links | Clinicians and patients | Free | Orientation, not patient-specific decisions |
| emc / SmPCs | Exact authorised product information | Professionals | Free | Product-by-product; dense |
| Local formulary | What your NHS system prefers or restricts | Local prescribers | Free | Local scope; not a pharmacology reference |
| SPS | Monitoring, supply, practical medicines use | NHS professionals | Free | Selected topics, not every drug |
| NICE CKS | Condition-led management incl. drug choice | Primary care | Free (UK) | Condition-led, not a formulary |
| NHS Medicines A-Z | Patient-facing explanations | Public | Free | Not a prescribing reference |
| Medicines for Children | Parent and carer guidance | Parents, carers | Free | Paediatric, selected medicines |
| BUMPS / UKTIS | Pregnancy exposure evidence | Public / professionals | Free | Pregnancy focus only |
| MHRA / Yellow Card | Live safety alerts, recalls, reporting | All | Free | Alerts, not monographs |
| dm+d | NHS product codes, packs, pricing | Systems, pharmacy | Free | Non-clinical dictionary |
| Specialist databases | Stockley's, Renal Drug Database, NEWT, Medusa, TOXBASE | Professionals | Mostly subscription/NHS | Narrow, expert scope |
Which resource should I use?
I need a dose for a particular patient: use the applicable clinical and local guidance, then verify the licensed product information in the relevant SmPC on eMC; seek pharmacy or specialist advice when the regimen is complex or off-label. I need to know whether the medicine is locally approved: use your local formulary. I need the exact excipients in one brand: use that product’s SmPC. I need monitoring requirements: combine applicable NICE or SPS guidance, the SmPC and any local shared-care document. For pregnancy use UKTIS and BUMPS alongside authorised product information and specialist guidance. For a child use current paediatric guidance plus the exact product information. For overdose use TOXBASE and urgent specialist support. For NHS product codes or packs use dm+d.
Three worked examples
For a child prescribed amoxicillin liquid, local antimicrobial and paediatric guidance determine indication and regimen; iatroX amoxicillin maps available formulations; the exact SmPC confirms concentration, reconstitution, storage and excipients; and Medicines for Children supports the parent conversation. For apixaban with worsening renal function, combine the relevant SmPC, applicable NICE or SPS guidance, the local anticoagulation pathway and pharmacy input. For long-term nitrofurantoin, use local infection guidance, relevant SmPC warnings, current MHRA safety communications and an explicit monitoring plan.
Where iatroX Medicines fits
Declared interest, and a precise claim: iatroX Medicines is the fast, structured front door, more than 1,250 evidence-linked UK medicine guides (1,255 at last count, August 2026), searchable by generic, brand or familiar alias, each with a plain-language overview and a professional clinical-detail tab, and, crucially, direct links out to the exact selected SmPCs, NHS pages, SPS and safety sources the question actually requires. It orients; it does not decide. Every clinical page carries the boundary in its own words: check current authorised UK product information, local policy and patient-specific factors before prescribing or changing treatment. That boundary is the design, not a disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Is There One Free Universal Medicines Reference?
No. eMC provides free product-specific SmPCs, NICE and CKS provide clinical guidance, and NHS SPS publishes practical medicines advice. Local and specialist services complete the picture. The right combination depends on the question and setting.
Is eMC the Same as Clinical Prescribing Guidance?
No. eMC hosts authorised, product-specific information. NICE, SPS, local and specialist guidance interpret evidence and support treatment choice or implementation. Use the SmPC to verify the licensed product position and the applicable guidance for the clinical recommendation.
Does a Local Formulary Replace Product Information or National Guidance?
Formularies themselves say no, explicitly; they govern local choice and responsibility, not pharmacology. Use both.
What is the best paediatric prescribing-reference alternative?
Use applicable national, local and specialist paediatric guidance for the regimen; the exact SmPC on eMC for product-specific information; Medicines for Children for parent-facing material; and neonatal, administration or toxicology resources when the question falls within their specialist scope.
Can patients use iatroX Medicines?
Yes; the overview layer is written to be readable, with the professional detail one tab deeper, and patient-specific decisions stay with the prescribing team.