Medical Pharmacology at a Glance, 9th Edition

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There is also further information available online, that includes flashcards, cases, list of core drugs, etc. Drugs are prescribed to produce a therapeutic effect, but they often produce additional unwanted effects ( Chapter 46) that range from the trivial (e. This binding activates the receptors by changing their conformation and triggers a sequence of postsynaptic events resulting in, for example, muscle contraction or glandular secretion.

Antagonists reduce the probability of the transmitter substance (or another agonist) combining with the receptor and so reduce or block its action. Clear and accessible chapters organised around common diseases and conditions facilitate efficient clinical learning, and include references to drug classes and side effects, disease pathophysiology, prescribing guidelines, and more.

Key principles are supported by coloured schematic diagrams - invaluable as both an introduction to medical pharmacology, and revision in the run-up to pharmacology exams.

The book is very comprehensive and groups drugs by function, giving a background and recap to conditions and the mechanism of the drugs. However, most drugs produce their effects by acting on specific protein molecules, usually located in the cell membrane. Each section contains a clear illustration depicting the major drugs and their interactions within a particular body system and a concise account of the topic. Each bite-sized chapter is covered in a double-page spread with clear, easy-to-follow diagrams, supported by succinct explanatory text. This edition features new and revised illustrations, additional pedagogical tools, and enhanced online content.I would recommend this book for medical students, science students and scientists who require a succinct account of pharmacology.

The interaction between a drug and the binding site of the receptor depends on the complementarity of ‘fit’ of the two molecules.Obviously I'm not suggesting anyone unqualified attempts to self diagnose - it's more a case of being informed about the effects and implications of the prescription you've received. For example, acetylcholine is a transmitter substance released from motor nerve endings; it activates receptors in skeletal muscle, initiating a sequence of events that results in contraction of the muscle.