Essentials of Medical Pharmacology - KD Tripathi - 7th Edition No Cost Library

Essentials of Medical Pharmacology - 7th Edition

   Author(s): KD Tripathi

                                    Publisher: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, Year: 2013                                           

 Description: This new edition has been fully revised to bring pharmacologists and trainees fully up to date with the latest developments in the field of medical pharmacology. Beginning with an introduction to general pharmacological principles, the following sections discuss drugs for common and less common disorders found in different regions of the body. The seventh edition includes new drugs, as well as the latest therapeutic guidelines from authoritative sources such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the British National Formulary (BNF). Each topic includes key point summary boxes as well as illustrations, flowcharts and tables to enhance learning. A 'problem-directed study' question at the end of each chapter helps trainees test their knowledge. An extensive appendices section includes a list of essential medicines, drugs that should/shouldn't be prescribed in pregnancy and lactation, and suggestions for further reading. Key points * Fully revised, new edition presenting latest developments in medical pharmacology * Includes therapeutic guidelines from WHO and BNF * Problem-directed study questions and key point summary boxes enhance learning * Previous edition published in 2008.

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Book Review:

Description: This 7th version of a medical pharmacology textbook includes further overview of clinical trials and therapeutic recommendations (the studies are addressed by name but the detailed citations are not usually included), contains two additional chapters, and extends antiviral medication scope by splitting the material into chapters on non-retroviral and anti-retroviral medicines. In 2013 the Seventh Version was published.

Purpose: The book is intended mainly for medical schools, in India. Drugs sold in India are given preference, and the brand names and products used in India are those used. This book is different from those which provide related knowledge in this regard. Option medications reflect existing Indian quality of treatment. At the conclusion of the book, a compilation of 70 sources contains other texts, including some of the clinical trials mentioned in the journal, but not all.

Audience: The target audience is Medical Students. A brief overview of the pharmacy in Chapter 1 tends to restrict pharmacists to "the art and science of compounding and dispensing medications or designing suitable dosage forms for man or animal administration." This definition is incompatible with current pharmacy practice models and will thus not be acceptable for pharmacy students. The speaker is a pharmacology professor and former head of department at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi , India. Colleagues, colleagues, and the wife of the author are thanked for comments and reviews but there are no other writers mentioned.

Features: The book's structure is close to that of many other pharmacology textbooks: basic principles, autonomic nervous system, autacoids, parts organized by glands, followed by antimicrobial drugs, chemotherapy drugs and miscellaneous. Figures and tables are used to describe definitions, or to supply drug classes with sample drugs. With most medicines, brand names (India) are listed along with formulations and instructions with limited dosing. Many but not all chapters have a patient case (Problem Guided Study) to "provide a practical decision-making practice." Details are given in an appendix to the cases. Certain appendices discuss prescribing during labour, breastfeeding medications and prohibited medication formulations and fixed-dose formulations in India (current via June 2017). The focus is on changing medical practice from "impression-based" to "evidence-based." The definition of essential drugs from the WHO and the National List of Essential Medicines from India are being debated. The book is good in its description of infectious disease drug treatment found in tropical and subtropical regions: TB, leprosy, HIV-AIDS, malaria, visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar), and infections with fungi. Both issues are dedicated to eight pages, which is remarkable because they are either reduced or skipped in the pharmacology textbooks published in the United States. It is unfortunate that discussions about drug therapeutic uses are not fully referenced; this makes it difficult to assess whether the information is current or not. Selected references would be a welcome addition to future editions as a part of each chapter.

Assessment: This book will be of greater value to Indian medical education. Outside India, it could be a useful resource for programs with a focus on world health issues or tropical / subtropical disease treatment.