Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 3e
By Derek G. Waller, BSc, DM, MBBS, FRCP, Consultant Cardiovascular Physician, Southampton General Hospital
Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Andrew G. Renwick, OBE, BSc, PhD, DSc, Emeritus Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
and Keith Hillier, BSc, PhD, DSc, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton, UK

ISBN: 9780702029912
Published October 2009
Paperback
728 pages /140 ills
Saunders
Although this is a comprehensive, wide-ranging and very academic textbook, it is actually quite small and concise for the content that it offers. Furthermore, even given that this book is a pharmacology textbook, it still retains the clinically important aspects of disease pathophysiology, which in combination with the use of sub-headings, diagrams, boxes and tables to display important pharmacological points, makes the text substantially more readable and intuitive than other equivalent texts. These comprise the “therapeutics” aspect of the textbook, which I feel separates this book from other similar texts. After the earlier chapters which cover the general principles of pharmacology, the later chapters are divided into systems which discuss not only the physiology of each system, but also the pathophysiology of the diseases, their pharmacology, unwanted treatment effects and specific management protocols. Therefore, it is vital that each chapter is up to date with the latest management guidelines, and the bibliographies and further reading at the end of each chapter emphasizes to me the professionalism and expertise with which this text was produced. However, remember that at its heart this book is for studying, and the MCQs at the end of each chapter are a fantastic revision tool that I have used myself. I’d recommend this book to anyone with a background of pre-clinical pharmacology who would like to delve a little deeper to understand some of the lists of disease treatments and drug side effects that we all read about, but understand little about!
Posted 9th Aug 2011
Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics begins with general principles of pharmacology, giving advice on its study, including learning the generic name of drugs, whether they are available over the counter and their propensity to cause interactions. The principles of homeostasis, action of drugs at receptors and the major types of receptor and second messenger systems are detailed. Drug action, tolerance and drug responses are explained. A huge table listing receptors with their agonists, antagonists and some extra useful information is near-comprehensive, and certainly more than any medical student needs to know. It is written more for reference than for reading through before more detail has been acquired in subsequent chapters. A limited student formulary is more accessible for the casual reader, detailing the core drugs for common clinical problems encountered in medical practice. Its approach encompasses both acute and chronic management, so the box on acute coronary syndrome includes both GTN and a statin. The entire chapter dedicated to pharmacokinetics is one of the most useful in the entire book. Using named examples, phases of drug metabolism are explained in diagrammatic form, as are drug-protein complexes, the blood-brain barrier and all the other key points. Information on drug discovery stresses the history precedents, cost implications and the essential nature of the different stages of clinical studies. There is a clear explanation of different forms of randomised controlled trial and the use of meta-analyses in post-marketing surveillance. The book takes a disease-based approach to pharmacotherapy wherever possible. Sections of the text detail therapeutic options for treatment of diseases of different body systems. Disorders which are notorious for affecting multiple organ systems, such as diabetes mellitus, are filed under their causative system. Chapters are completed with references to more sources of information on the therapeutics of specific illnesses in the literature. The chapter on the chemotherapy of infections contains excellent information on the classification of antibacterial drugs which clinical students typically fail to retain. Further reference tables throughout the book provide information in an easy-to-read format about specific drugs. Self-assessment questions found in each chapter test understanding, and the answers to them which are provided explain how the sometimes tricky questions are solved.
Posted 18th Jan 2010