Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents:1. Basic principles: Introduction -- Drug Receptors & Pharmacodynamics -- Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics: rational dosing & the time course of drug action -- Drug biotransformation -- Basic & clinical evaluation of new drugs -- 2. Autonomic drugs: Introduction to autonomic pharmacology -- Cholinocepter-activating & cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs -- Cholinocepter-blocking drugs -- Adrenocepter-activating & other sympathomimetic drugs -- Adrenocepter antagonist drugs -- 3. Cardiovascular-renal drugs: Antihypertensive agents -- Vasodilators & the treatment of angina pectoris -- Drugs used in heart failure -- Agents used in cardiac arrhythmias -- Diuretic agents -- 4. Drugs with important actions on smooth muscle: Histamine, serotonin & the ergot alkaloids -- Vasoactive peptides -- The Eicosanoids: prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, & related compounds -- Nitric oxide, donors & inhibitors -- Drugs used in asthma -- 5. Drugs that act in the central nervous system: Introduction to the pharmacology of CNS drugs -- Sedative-hypnotic drugs -- The alcohols -- Antiseizure drugs -- General anesthetics -- Local anesthetics -- Skeletal muscle relaxants -- Pharmacologic management of parkinsonism & other movement disorders -- Antipsychotic agents & lithium -- Antidepressant agents -- Opioid analgesics & antagonists -- Drugs of abuse -- 6. Drugs used to treat diseases of the blood, inflammation & gout: Agents used in anemias; hematopoietic growth factors -- Drugs used in the disorders of coagulation -- Agents used in hyperlipidemia -- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, nonopioid analgesics & drugs used in gout -- 7. Endocrine drugs: Hypothalamic & pituitary hormones -- Thyroid & anithyroid drugs -- Adrenocorticosteroids & adrenocortical antagonists -- The gonadal hormones & inhibitors -- Pancreatic hormones & antidiabetic drugs -- Agents that affect bone mineral homeostasis -- 8. Chemotherapeutic drugs: Beta-lactam antibiotics & other inhibitors of cell wall synthesis -- Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, macrolides, clindamycin, & streptogramins -- Aminoglycosides & spectinomycin -- Sulfonamides, trimethoprim, & quinolones -- Antimycobacterial drugs -- Antifungal agents -- Antiviral agents -- Miscellaneous antimicrobial agents; disinfectants, antiseptics, & sterilants -- Clinical use of antimicrobial agents -- Basic principles of antiparasitic chemotherapy -- Antiprotozoal drugs -- Clinical pharmacology of the anthelmintic drugs -- Cancer chemotherapy -- immunopharmacology -- 9.Toxicology: Introduction to toxicology: occupational & environmental -- Heavy metal intoxication & chelators -- Management of the poisoned patient -- 10. Special topics: Special aspects of perinatal & pediatric pharmacology -- Special aspects of geriatric pharmacology -- Dermatologic pharmacology -- Drugs used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases -- Therapeutic & toxic potential of over-the-counter agents -- Botanicals (" herbal medications") & nutritional supplements -- Rational prescribing & prescription writing --