BNF
The UK's bible for what to prescribe, how much, and what to watch for.
What it is
About BNF
Published jointly by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ Group, the BNF is the definitive UK reference for drug dosing, formulations, interactions, side effects and prescribing guidance, updated continuously online and in print twice yearly. Nurses, doctors, pharmacists and paramedics use it daily to check safe dosing, cross-check interactions and confirm prescribing rules before administering or dispensing medicines.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Look up correct dosing and formulations for a given drug and patient group
Check drug interactions and contraindications before administration
Confirm prescribing restrictions, cautions and monitoring requirements
Reference the paediatric-specific BNFc for children's dosing
Support safe, evidence-based clinical decision-making at the point of care
How to learn it
Learning Resources
The free official BNF website (bnf.nice.org.uk) and its mobile app
NHS and university medicines-management and pharmacology modules
Practise using it during clinical placements to check real prescriptions
Royal Pharmaceutical Society training materials on formulary use
Pro Tip
Always check the interactions appendix and the relevant patient-group notes for renal or hepatic impairment, pregnancy separately — the headline dose entry alone doesn't capture every safety caveat.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool