Includes bibliographical references and index

Getting a drug into the body: absorption -- Getting a drug to its site of action: distribution -- Inactivating drugs: phase 1 drug metabolism -- Phase 2 drug metabolism and methods of excretion -- The concept of a drug's half-life: an estimate of the rate of elimination of different drugs -- Receptor function and intercellular signalling -- The central role of receptors in drug action -- Drugs that block enzymes: understanding NSAID therapy in inflammation -- The principal targets for drug action -- Calcium ion for the prescriber -- Introduction to drugs in the central nervous system -- CNS drugs whose action is (a) understood, (b) unknown/speculative -- The actions of CNS drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia and life-threatening status epilepticus -- Drugs used to treat Parkinsonism -- Pain and analgesics -- How anti-emetic drugs work -- Antipsychotic drugs -- Antidepressant drugs -- Anti-epileptic drugs -- Drugs of abuse: hallucinogens and CNS stimulants -- Alzheimer's disease -- How the many antidiabetic drugs work -- Treating severe chronic inflammation -- The scientific basis of prescribing for the elderly -- Antibacterial action and bacterial resistance -- How to prevent adverse drug interactions - ADIs -- How to predict and avoid adverse drug reactions to single drugs - ADRs -- Why consider practice formulary? -- Getting new drugs to market: licensing medicines for human use -- The problem of patients' non-compliance with their medication - 'non-concordance'

A concise textbook providing a clear description of drug absorption, distribution, action, metabolism and adverse effects, this title provides the information needed in a straightforward way to ensure informed, safe and cost-effective prescribing