Pathology and Therapeutics for Pharmacists

This book is based upon many years of teaching one of the pioneering undergraduate clinical pharmacy courses in the UK, and presents an integrated approach to the pathophysiological and pharmacotherapeutic principles underlying the drug treatment of disease. It shows how a knowledge of normal body function and the ways in which it becomes deranged leads to an understanding of disease and, from these concepts, to the rationale behind therapeutic decision making. The essential principles applying to each body system are emphasized strongly throughout, before discussing a particular disease. In "Pathology and Therapeutics for Pharmacists", readers are introduced to the medical approach to patients and disease, and to medical terminology, as a basis for better communication between them and doctors and other health professionals. The use of medicines is then placed in context in relation to other forms of treatment. Most of the common serious diseases susceptible to drug treatment are covered, plus general chapters on therapeutics, pathological processes (including immunopathology), pain control and infections. The text includes many examples, illustrations, tables, summary boxes, flow charts and 16 colour plates in addition to extensive cross-referencing, a consistent approach, and clear layout with multiple sub-headings. The book should be of interest to paramedical students, including those in nursing, physiotherapy, nutrition, radiography, dentistry, chiropody, osteopathy and chiropractice. It may also serve as a simple introduction to therapeutics for medical students. This book should be of interest to pharmacy students; lecturers in pharmacy; hospital and community pharmacists; industrial pharmacists; paramedical students including those in nursing and health sciences in general; medical students who need health sciences in general; and medical students who need an introduction to therapeutics.