Clinical Pharmacology

‘The very last thing a drug regulator wishes to be able to say is, like Lord Byron (1788-1824), on the publication of his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, ‘I awoke one morning and found myself famous.’

The twelfth edition of this long-established textbook of clinical pharmacology (first published in 1960) continues its fine tradition of balancing science and practice for improved evidence-based drug therapy and good prescribing in therapeutic settings increasingly complicated by intercurrent disease and polypharmacy.

• Coverage of all major therapeutic topics by body system.
• Introductory sections give brief chapter synopses.
• Case studies where relevant.
• Covers the needs of the developing world with a focus on practical prescribing and health technology assessment.
• Definition, tips, brief explanation boxes throughout.
• Interesting histories, etymologies and provenances of terms throughout.
• Entertaining footnotes throughout.

Section 1: General

1 Clinical pharmacology

2 Topics in drug therapy

3 Discovery and development of drugs

4 Evaluation of drugs in humans

5 Health Technology Assessment

6 Regulation of medicines

7 Classification and naming of drugs

Section 2: From Pharmacology to Toxicology

8 General pharmacology

9 Unwanted effects and adverse drug reactions

10 Poisoning, overdose, antidotes

11 Drug dependence

Section 3: Infection and Inflammation

12 Chemotherapy of infections

13 Antibacterial drugs

14 Chemotherapy of bacterial infections

15 Viral, fungal, protozoal and helminthic infections

16 Drugs for inflammation and joint disease

17 Drugs and the skin

Section 4: Nervous System

18 Pain and analgesics

19 Anaesthesia and neuromuscular block

20 Psychotropic drugs

21 Neurological disorders - epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis

Section 5: Cardiorespiratory and Renal Systems

22 Cholinergic and antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) mechanisms and drugs

23 Adrenergic mechanisms and drugs

24 Arterial hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and heart failure

25 Cardiac arrhythmia

26 Hyperlipidaemias

27 Kidney and genitourinary tract

28 Respiratory system

Section 6: Blood and Neoplastic Disease

29 Drugs and haemostasis

30 Cellular disorders and anaemias

31 Neoplastic disease and immunosuppression

Section 7: Gastrointestinal System

32 Oesophagus, stomach and duodenum

33 Intestines

34 Liver, biliary tract, pancreas

Section 8: Endocrine System, Metabolic Conditions

35 Adrenal corticosteroids, antagonists, corticotropin

36 Diabetes mellitus, insulin, oral antidiabetes agents, obesity

37 Thyroid hormones, antithyroid drugs

38 Hypothalamic, pituitary and sex hormones

39 Vitamins, calcium, bone