Preface vii
Acknowledgements viii
Further reading ix
List of abbreviations x
Core drugs xi
About the companion website xii
1 Introduction: principles of drug action 2
2 Drug–receptor interactions 4
3 Drug absorption, distribution and excretion 6
4 Drug metabolism 8
5 Local anaesthetics 10
6 Drugs acting at the neuromuscular junction 12
7 Autonomic nervous system 14
8 Autonomic drugs acting at cholinergic synapses 16
9 Drugs acting on the sympathetic system 18
10 Ocular pharmacology 20
11 Asthma, hay fever and anaphylaxis 22
12 Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract I: peptic ulcer 24
13 Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract II: motility and secretions 26
14 Drugs acting on the kidney: diuretics 28
15 Drugs used in hypertension 30
16 Drugs used in angina 32
17 Antiarrhythmic drugs 34
18 Drugs used in heart failure 36
19 Drugs used to affect blood coagulation 38
20 Lipid-lowering drugs 40
21 Agents used in anaemias 42
22 Central transmitter substances 44
23 General anaesthetics 46
24 Anxiolytics and hypnotics 48
25 Antiepileptic drugs 50
26 Drugs used in Parkinson’s disease 52
27 Antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics) 54
28 Drugs used in affective disorders: antidepressants 56
29 Opioid analgesics 58
30 Drugs used in nausea and vertigo (antiemetics) 60
31 Drug misuse and dependence 62
32 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 64
33 Corticosteroids 66
34 Sex hormones and drugs 68
35 Thyroid and antithyroid drugs 70
36 Antidiabetic agents 72
37 Antibacterial drugs that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis: sulphonamides, trimethoprim, quinolones and nitroimidazoles 74
38 Antibacterial drugs that inhibit cell wall synthesis: penicillins, cephalosporins and vancomycin 76
39 Antibacterial drugs that inhibit protein synthesis: aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides and chloramphenicol 78
40 Antifungal drugs 80
41 Antiviral drugs 82
42 Drugs acting on parasites I: helminths (worms) 84
43 Drugs acting on parasites II: protozoa 86
44 Drugs used in cancer 88
45 Immunosuppressants and antirheumatoid drugs 90
46 Poisoning 92
47 Adverse drug reactions 94
Case studies and questions 96
Answers 98
Index 102
