If you understand how drugs work (pharmacodynamics), how they are handled by the body (pharmacokinetics), how they interact with each other, and how drug treatments are assessed, then you will become a better prescriber. A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics gives you that understanding.

Fully revised throughout and extensively illustrated, the fifth edition of this well-established textbook has been streamlined to focus on what medical students and junior doctors really need to know in order to understand the implications of prescribing one drug over, or in combination with, another. The text provides current information on all areas of drug prescribing with updated discussion and guidance on such topics as adverse drug reactions, personalized medicine, gene and cell-based therapy, advances in cancer therapy, and mechanisms of drug action and treatment guidelines in HIV and mycobacterial infections therapy. A new chapter on alternative medicines and nutraceuticals has been introduced and Further Reading lists have been updated to include key medical websites.

All medical students and junior doctors who read this book will learn not only how to use drugs safely and effectively, but, importantly, the rationale behind effective prescribing decisions

See larger image A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Hodder Arnold Publication) (Paperback) By (author) James M Ritter, Lionel D Lewis, Timothy GK Mant, Albert Ferro List Price: $57.50 USD New From: $49.10 In Stock Used from: $39.12 In Stock

The prescription of two or more drugs for simultaneous use by a patients always raises the possibility that one of those drugs will affect the intensity and duration of effect of the other(s), and can introduce the possibility of serious side effects occurring. This book provides a convenient, user-friendly approach to this problem, providing information on potential adverse affects by drug class. By establishing a system of grading throughout the book and appropriate coding through the use of special icons, the authors highlight immediately to the reader those interactions that are likely to give rise to life-threatening reactions and must therefore be completely avoided in addition to other, less threatening but nonetheless important interactions to be aware of.

Presented in tabular form for ease of reference, the book also provides a brief summary of the mechanism underlying a particular interaction, alternative drugs lacking the same reactions that may be considered and instructions for monitoring patients when adverse effects may occur. All advice is supported by the appropriate evidence, graded according to a university accepted system. Drug naming follows the recommendations of INN. Throughout, interactions with OTC medications, herbal remedies and dietary supplements are also considered