About us
Our mission is to transform the world's most fascinating fields of knowledge into beautiful, collectible artifacts that inspire curiosity, reward lifelong learning, and are treasured for generations.
I managed a retail pharmacy. The line was at the gate before the gate was open, and the hardest hour of most days involved a controlled substance. I had the degree and the license, and most mornings I still didn’t feel like I knew my medicine.
You learn to read a profile fast. Hydromorphone alongside an alprazolam, a gabapentin, a methocarbamol — four lines that look ordinary alone and stack into something that isn’t. School taught me the interaction. It didn’t teach me how to have that conversation across a counter with seven people listening. Knowing a drug and being ready for it at the counter are two different things.
I got it wrong once, early. The audit that followed — corporate, the Board, the DEA — rebuilt the way I practiced. I stopped trusting myself to remember and started writing it down, and I kept going until I had written the books I wish someone had handed me. Sir Tan, my dog, slept under the desk through most of it.
The Narcotic deck came after that, and it started out selfish. I wanted an object made out of what I knew — something that felt good in the hands, that I would actually pick up.
As the collection grew, I started pairing different specialties with different artists. Psychiatry, Anesthesia and Antibiotic were each developed with a different illustrator, so those fields got their own visual language instead of being forced through the same hand. Two more artists are already helping shape what comes next.
It was meant to solve a knowledge problem, and that turned out to be the easy half. Knowledge nobody handles teaches nobody. None of this reaches a person unless it first makes them want to pick it up, shuffle it, and leave it somewhere it can be seen.
So the decks are built to reward whoever looks longest. The ordering means something. The faces carry more than they need to. Most of it only opens up once you already know the field — which is the point.
I still work nights, still eat too much sushi, still redraw cards nobody asked me to redraw.
They’re not made for everyone. Each deck has an outer beauty and an inner one, and only a few people will ever see both.
Customer reviews
I just received my boxed gift set and am blown away by the quality and artisanship. I'm an interior designer and appreciate high quality items that combine form and function, and are attractive enough to be kept on display for easy use. This set exceeded my expectations and has earned a place on my bar cabinet and I will definitely be buying more for my sophisticated friends and clients who will appreciate the same. Thank you Pharmacopeia for simplifying my gifting this year!
These are just gorgeous. Wonderful job.
The design is impeccable and the box itself has such a collector's edition feel. I'm glad I'm one of the lucky ones that got the gold foil printing. The decks fit perfectly in each slot and honestly the price point given the quality I feel like is an absolute bargain. I can see how much thought and effort went into this and it really shows. You guys did a phenomenal job. I hope the next set of decks is able to accommodate something like this or even a full on case at some point down the line. I love seeing this grow and I'm so glad to be a part of the community.
I received one of my long-awaited collector's boxes today, and I must say, they are exquisite! I have already placed one set of cards in it, and I am overjoyed that I stumbled upon this ensemble. I want to congratulate you on your vision; I don't believe there's ever been anything like this done with such a level of detail!
We received the cards and I tried to video something but my son knew I was video'ing and he was trying too hard lolol. He loved the cards though ... when my other son and his girlfriend came over, my youngest literally went into his room to grab the deck of cards to show them ... and they loved it too, they scanned QR codes and we talked about it for awhile! Would be great to sell them to schools/teachers etc... Anyway, just wanted to let you know it was a big hit with my kids
I must say, I love these cards. As a collector of various playing cards, I have never seen anything like these. The details? Stunning. The information? More than I know what to do with. I don't work in the medical field, yet I can still appreciate these cards as someone who does.
I have these cards. They are awesome! I have gifted several pharmacists and pharmacy students with the Narcotic playing cards and they are always well received. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next Kevin!
I took a chance of gifting two decks to my 19 yo son as a gift for successfully completing A&P2 (9 week summer class). He was thrilled. Very impressed with the quality of the cards as well as all the detailed info. Buying surprise gift for adult children is hit or miss but you've made it easy!!
The quality is phenomenal. The cards are thick and hearty. The artwork is beautiful and I have learned so much just by using these cards a handful of times. My resident/fellow/attending friends absolutely love them and I will have to oblige so they can enjoy and learn as well. The QR code is so cool.
I love medicine/science, the hidden details & Easter eggs, and the pharmacology throughout the deck. What surprised me most was the extra fold on the card box for the opening flap, the arrangement of drug indications/side effects, and the high-quality feel while still looking and being able to shuffle/play with them. They're medically usable, playing usable, and look like collectibles, but can still be used.
I'm a psychiatry resident, hoping to organize a psychiatry poker night / study session using these flashcards. They're very well designed. I like the artwork as well, but the patterns and psychopharmacology is why I purchased. Great job.
I love the hidden details in the cards. Also, I love the cool reactions from my pharmacy colleagues (students, faculty, and pharmacists) to the cards.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Poker Pharmacopeia playing cards. I've actually purchased several of the original decks to give out as gifts to family, friends, and fellow nurse practitioners. I love the concept and the execution so much that with the newly released set, I ended up purchasing an additional one.. one to keep pristine on display and one to actually use.
I'm a total card geek, and these are really cool and informative decks. The card quality impressed me most. The design and details are beyond expectation. A combination of useful and great design, best gifts ever.
I collect playing card decks. These were just too interesting and related to my profession to pass up on. I previously bought the Narcotics deck, very impressed with both the quality of the cards and the information contained within each one. Would love to see a deck for Benzodiazepines or CNS Stimulants as well.
The cards!!!!! OMG!!!! They are awesome! You put an enormous amount of effort into them and the detail reflects that. I was half-way through the antibiotic deck before the QR codes stood out. That was a very nice touch. The cards have so many Easter Eggs.
I got the Narcotic deck, and it's AWESOME. Unique concept, love the care and detail. I got my additional 3 decks this week, they're awesome too. I love the evolution and refinement between the Narcotic deck and the new ones. Would love to see cardiac cards or BP meds as themes.
Saw the ad and thought they were cool. Bought a three-pack for myself and as gifts. I love the artwork and the information. I'm not even a pharmacist, just a nerd. The card material screams quality.
Time and time again I'm disappointed in playing cards that are cheaply made. Even the US Playing Card Company has sold me decks with sub-par feel. Anything less than linoid or air cushion finish feels like garbage. Quality confirmed. These blew my mind.
New grad hire LOVES THEM! My husband's mind was BLOWN! Even my wholesale rep wants the next edition.
Honestly, I think these were underpriced. There's so much value in the cards and information. They brought me back to my urgent care days when I prescribed opioids more frequently.
I play a lot of cards with my friends who are also healthcare professionals. I showed these to the PA's and providers I work with in the trauma and surgical ICU.. they were all really impressed with the professionalism and end product. They all thought it was really cool.
I'm a hospice physician, so I use a ton of opioids in my practice. The first batch I gave to my nurse practitioner colleagues in palliative care, they loved them. Really excited to give out more.
Pharmacy Week was coming up and this deck is a great gift idea. I've always struggled to find unique, high-quality gifts for pharmacy teams. I hang out with nerds, doctors, and healthcare professionals who love things like this. I bought 10 decks, and it worked out great.
I got to show my friends who are pharmacists and technicians.. they all thought it was really cool. It's a little niche, nerdy thing, and there's not a lot of that for pharmacy people. This fills a niche market that desperately needs attention.
The reactions I've observed to these cards have been unanimously positive. Everyone I've shown them to.. pharmacy students, pharmacists, techs, nurses.. said the same thing: 'Wow, this is really cool. Unique. Stylish. Love the chemical structures and the MME sorting.'
I was a little skeptical at first because there are so many card decks on the market. But when I looked at them and started playing, I found they were really nice and the detail won me over. So nice, in fact, that I bought a few extra and gave them to my coworkers.
The QR code is the best part.. it takes you directly to the drug page. It's really cool to have so much information on one card, and being able to scan for even more is a great feature.
I was actually very impressed by the whole thing, from the quality to the usability. I still haven't been able to bring myself to use them in a game.. but I know I'll have to eventually, or it's hard to call them playing cards. I especially appreciated the time and attention devoted to the Psychiatry deck. It's not always a popular area, and the complexity often scares professionals away from engaging with it. These decks exceeded my expectations and are absolutely five-star quality.
Very unique artwork with an educational purpose, alongside being fun.
What impressed me most was the sheer detail of the design.
I work in the OR and an orthopedic office. The docs have loved the narcotic, antibiotic, and anesthesia cards.. they've asked for some for Christmas. They're great.
I have a playing card collection and I'm a pharmacist. Really cool cards. As a clinical veterinary pharmacist, I would love to see a veterinary deck with all the really cool drugs we use that aren't used in human medicine. I would be so willing to consult or collab.
I'm a collector of playing cards. Unique deck, both in design and concept. Would love to see a common food chemicals version with caffeine, alcohol, water, and traditional indigenous medicines as future themes.
Bought for the artwork. Would love to see a chemotherapy deck next.
Graduation gift. Would love to see oncology and anaesthesia decks.
Gift for me and my pharmacist friend. Would love to see cardiovascular and dermatology decks. Like psychedelic too.
I have the Narcotic cards! They are AWESOME!
I like collecting cards.
I collect cards and I love the medical aspect of these! Would love to see an OB or neonatal set.
Bought as a gift.
Paramedic buying for myself.
Looked really cool and I'm a bit of a science nerd.
Bought for myself and as a gift. My S-I-L is a long time PharmD.
I like the design of the cards and the fact that they're manufactured to good quality and handle well.
My son wants to be a doctor and there are two other student doctors in my life.
I'm a pharmacist and thought it was cool. Loved the narcotic cards.
A gift for someone who runs an apothecary.
I'm a psychologist and mentor for gifted adolescents, teens, and twentysomethings. Would love to see diagnoses and DSM cards.
I'm a maintenance tech and these looked interesting.
Bought for myself. As a pharm tech, I'd love to see a holder for the decks.
Bought as a gift for my pharmacist.
Bought as a gift.
Bought for the artwork.
Bought to study.
Love these. A custom box to protect the deck would be a great add-on.
Bought for myself and as a gift.
Bought for myself.
Bought for myself and as a gift.
Bought as a gift.
Bought as a gift. As a veterinarian, I'd love to see a veterinary drugs edition next.
Gift for my pharmacist boyfriend.
I bought these for myself and as a gift. As a pharmacy student I thought these would be a fun way to study. Such high quality, great study tools. I really enjoyed giving these as gifts too.
Unique gift for coworkers.
Excellent and high quality gift for pharmacist friends.
Bought as gifts for colleagues. As an inpatient hospital pharmacist, I'd love to see a CYP450 drug-interaction deck next.
I'm a pharmacist and these looked super fun. Love them. I work for the U.S. Pharmacopeia. Would love to see expanded themes.
I'm a parent of a pharmacy student buying as a gift.
Bought as a gift.
Bought as a gift for my pharmacist.
Bought for myself.
Got them for myself & a friend.
I'm a PharmD/med chemistry student who is super into 'geeky' gifts. Packaging was super protected, nicely wrapped, and shipping was faster than anticipated.
Bought for myself and as a gift.
For my collection and as potential gifts.
I gifted these cards to all the pharmacists at my work, and their reactions were a lot of fun. Every single person unboxed them in front of me and was amazed by the quality and the art.
Got these for myself and for friends.
I am a pharmacist, and I bought them for myself and my coworkers as gifts.
I've been showing everyone these cards. The response is always the same: "That's pretty cool, how do I get some?" It's definitely a conversation starter.
Buying them as gifts.
Bought as a gift.
As an avid Bridge player and former clinical pharmacist with academic professorships, I'd love to see a second deck in a different color so we could use them for Bridge. Monoclonal antibodies would be a timely theme.
Bought for myself and as a gift. Would love to see a Delta-9 THC card.
Bought for myself. Love them.
As a gift, I have a friend who is entering pharmacology school and I thought that they would love it. Quality of the cards is great and I love using them and seeing the different designs.
I'm not even in medicine. I work in drug enforcement and some of the guys I work with are going crazy over these cards.
These are so perfect. I go to different hospitals every month for clinicals and I'm always struggling to find just the right gift to give to my preceptors.
Bought a second set when I thought I lost my first. Now it's a gift for someone else. A discontinued-drugs deck would be great.
Great art, very readable, and fun to play with.
Bought as a gift. Solid 4/5 product.
As an educator, I can't see a better classroom gift. This concept could expand to so many hard-to-memorize topics in medicine.
One of the unexpected benefits is that these cards are an excellent icebreaker. I've shown them to a few fellow pharmacists and they were genuinely impressed with the quality and design.
My favorite thing about the Narcotic Cards is honestly the way they feel. They're also very aesthetically pleasing. The amount of information that fits on each card surprised me the most.
I'm a CPhT and saw an ad for these. I was instantly impressed! I bought these for myself.
This unique deck is a conversation starter for anyone in the medical or science field. Functional for games, flashcards for students, and a perfect stocking stuffer.
Neat idea and look to them.
Cool gift for a coworker who is a pharmacist.
When I first heard about the idea.. molecular formulas, brand and generic names, morphine milligram equivalents.. I thought it was cool. But seeing the final product was pretty awesome. The cards feel good in your hands. I like them a lot.
This deck of cards is a 5 out of 5. As a pharmacy technician, I can say it's incredibly knowledgeable about the narcotics we see on a daily basis.
Bought as pharmacy Christmas presents. Would love a matching card holder or counting tray accessory.
Bought for its uniqueness and to show appreciation as a pharmacy tech. Funny quote cards from real pharmacy moments would be fun!
I'm an oncology and sterile compounding pharmacist. Very cool concept. Gifted some to colleagues who loved them.
Bought for our daughter who just started as a pharmacy tech. Such a creative, meaningful gift.
I'm a Pharmacist so I found these so interesting!
After buying these, I got a nice refresher on narcotics I don't deal with on a daily basis in retail. It's useful to see all the different types of medications and what forms they come in, especially helpful if you work per diem in the hospital.
Love the design and layout. A suit-by-specialty approach would be amazing for nuclear pharmacy.
Fun and different. As a pharmacy student hoping to match into residency, these are a great way to learn while having a good time.
Interesting concept. Would like more customization or personalization options.
Bought for a friend. Couldn't be happier with the purchase.
Great concept and even better gift. Bought some for myself and for staff.
The thing I enjoyed the most (and what also really surprised me) was the quality and how well they were designed. I particularly liked how the chemical structures are incorporated, especially the narcotic information. The idea is really nice too.
Got them for their uniqueness.
I work in admin and want to support other pharmacists in a fun way.
I've worked within Pharmacy for over 30 years and I'm a playing card deck collector.
Artwork looks amazing and testimonials from friends sold me. Hope to see Big 3 themes next.
Saw them on social media and had to have them. Ordered one for myself and another to give away. Perfect for pharmacy nerds like me!
Bought while studying pharmacy. A cardiology or top-52-drugs deck would be helpful.
Gift for pharmacist.
I'm a retail pharmacist and this looked fun and educational. Ordered sets for all my pharmacist friends. Excited for more drug-class themes.
Bought as a gift for a friend who's a pharmacist. Solid purchase.
Great for creative learning.
Gifted to my pharmacy friends. Would love a deck for comorbidities or top-used drugs like atorvastatin or amlodipine.
Bought for the art and knowledge.
I'm a pharmacy tech. These look fun.
Fun pharmacy-themed gift. Can't wait to see more decks by drug class.
I would highly recommend these cards to anyone interested in learning more about opioids or working in the pharmacy or medical field. A great investment and a genuinely fun way to learn.
I'm a psychologist married to a pharmacy school dean. Saw these on FB ads and emails.
I work for a PSAO and these are a great conversation starter! Custom packaging like a prescription receipt would be a fun touch.
Pharmacy related.
Bought these for our daughter. She's 4th year pharmacy student starting rotations in January.
As a retired pharmacist, I bought these cards because they looked interesting. A psychiatric drug edition would be great too.
A fun way to extend your learning. Over 30 years in pharmacy and these still caught my eye.
They are a great gift for my pharmacist.
Love the psychiatric deck. The artwork is amazing, such a great fusion between creativity and science. There's nothing like this anywhere! I love displaying them in my office.
Bought another pack for the bonus 55th card.
Rated low because I expected a physical set, not an online version.
Some customers received a future purchase discount for sharing honest feedback.
