Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Further reading -- How to use your textbook -- 1. Introduction. principles of drug action -- 2. Drug-receptor interactions -- 3. Drug absorption, distribution and excretion -- 4. Drug metabolism -- 5. Local anaesthetics -- 6. Drugs acting at the neuromuscular junction -- 7. Autonomic nervous system -- 8. Autonomic drugs acting at cholinergic synapses -- 9. Drugs acting on the sympathetic system -- 10. Ocular pharmacology -- 11. Asthma, hay fever and anaphylaxis -- 12. Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract I. peptic ulcer -- 13. Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal tract II. motility and secretions -- 14. Drugs acting on the kidney. diuretics -- 15. Drugs used in hypertension -- 16. Drugs used in angina -- 17. Antiarrhythmic drugs -- 18. Drugs used in heart failure -- 19. Drugs used to affect blood coagulation -- 20. Lipid-lowering drugs -- 21. Agents used in anaemias -- 22. Central transmitter substances -- 23. General anaesthetics -- 24. Anxiolytics and hypnotics -- 25. Antiepileptic drugs -- 26. Drugs used in Parkinson's disease -- 27. Antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics) -- 28. Drugs used in affective disorders. antidepressants -- 29. Opioid analgesics -- 30. Drugs used in nausea and vertigo (antiemetics) -- 31. Drug misuse and dependence -- 32. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- 33. Corticosteroids -- 34. Sex hormones and drugs -- 35. Thyroid and antithyroid drugs -- 36. Antidiabetic agents

37. Antibacterial drugs that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis. sulphonamides, trimethoprim, quinolones and nitroimidazoles -- 38. Antibacterial drugs that inhibit cell wall synthesis. penicillins, cephalosporins and vancomycin -- 39. Antibacterial drugs that inhibit protein synthesis. aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides and chloramphenicol -- 40. Antifungal drugs -- 41. Antiviral drugs -- 42. Drugs acting on parasites I. helminths (worms) -- 43. Drugs acting on parasites II. protozoa -- 44. Drugs used in cancer -- 45. Immunosuppressants and antirheumatoid drugs -- 46. Poisoning -- 47. Adverse drug reactions -- Case studies and questions -- Answers.