"Medical Pharmacology at a Glance" is an excellent starting point for the study of pharmacology. This handbook, which has achieved global publishing success, is a reliable tool for medical students and other health professionals, as it provides an accessible and visual overview of pharmacology.

The present 8th edition has been extensively updated, particularly regarding anesthetics and drugs used in AIDS, as well as medications for anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. It also discusses drug metabolism, as well as common practical issues associated with pharmaceutical treatment, such as side effects.

Each chapter is developed and completed in just two pages, the first of which includes diagrams that encode the necessary information, and the second a concise text. Covering a broad range of topics, the "At a Glance" series books are ideal introductory manuals for any subject area, excellent aids for exams, and handy reference books for daily clinical practice.

The highly successful "At a Glance" book series has earned the trust of the international medical community and other health professionals.

Contents

Foreword vii

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword of the 2nd Greek edition viii

Foreword of the 3rd Greek edition viii

Foreword of the 4th Greek edition ix

Recommended bibliography x

How to use the book xi

1 Introduction: principles of drug action 2

2 Drug-receptor interactions 4

3 Absorption, distribution, and excretion of the drug 6

4 Drug metabolism 8

5 Local anesthetics 10

6 Drug action at the neuromuscular junction 12

7 Autonomic nervous system 14

8 Drugs acting on the autonomic nervous system 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 kidneys: diuretics 28

15 Drugs used in hypertension (antihypertensives) 30

16 Drugs used in angina 32

17 Antiarrhythmic drugs 34

18 Drugs used in heart failure 36

19 Drugs affecting blood coagulation 38

20 Drugs that reduce lipids 40

21 Drugs used in anemias 42

22 Neurotransmitters of the Central Nervous System 44

23 General anesthetics 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 for emotional disorders: antidepressants 56

29 Opioid analgesics 58

30 Drugs for the treatment of nausea and vertigo (antiemetics) 60

31 Drug abuse and dependence 62

32 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 64

33 Corticosteroids 66

34 Sex hormones and drugs 68

35 Thyroid hormones and antithyroid drugs 70

36 Antidiabetic drugs 72

37 Antimicrobial drugs that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis: sulfonamides, trimethoprim, quinolones, and nitroimidazoles 74

38 Antimicrobial drugs that inhibit cell wall synthesis: penicillins, cephalosporins, and vancomycin 76

39 Antimicrobial drugs that inhibit protein synthesis: aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, and chloramphenicol 78

40 Antifungal drugs 80

41 Antiviral drugs 82

42 Drugs acting against parasites I: Helminths (worms) 84

43 Drugs acting against parasites II: Protozoa 86

44 Drugs used in cancer treatment 88

45 Immunosuppressants and antirheumatic drugs 90

46 Poisoning 92

47 Adverse effects of drugs 94

Case studies and questions 96

Answers 98

Index 102