Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Derek G. Waller, BSc, DM, MBBS, FRCP, Consultant Cardiovascular Physician, Southampton General Hospital; Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

General Principles. Principles of pharmacology and mechanisms of drug action. Pharmacokinetics. Drug discovery, safety and efficacy. The nervous system, neurotransmission and the peripheral nervous system. Cardiovascular system. Ischaemic heart disease. Systemic and pulmonary hypertension. Heart failure. Cardiac arrhythmias. Cerebrovascular disease and dementia. Peripheral vascular disease. Haemostasis. Respiratory system. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Other respiratory problems. Renal system. Diuretics. Disorders of micturition. Erectile dysfunction. Nervous system. General anaesthetics. Local anaesthetics. Opioid analgesics. Anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics. Psychotic disorders. Depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Epilepsy. Extrapyramidal movement disorders and spasticity. Other neurological disorers. Migraine. Musculoskeletal system. Neuromuscular blockade. Myasthenia gravis. NSAIDs. Inflammatory arthritis. Hyperuricaemia and gout. Gastrointestinal system. Nausea and vomiting. Dyspepsia and peptic ulcer disease. Inflammatory bowel disease. Constipation, diarrhoea and IBS. Obesity. Immune system. The immune response and immunosuppressant drugs. Antihistamines and allergic disease. Endocrine system and metabolic disease. Diabetes mellitus. Thyroid disease. Calcium metabolism. Pituitary and hypothalmic hormones. Corticosteroids. Female reproductive system. Androgens and anabolic steroids. Anaemia. Lipids. Skin and eye disorders. Skin disorders. Eye disorders Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy of infection. Chemotherapy of malignancy. Drug toxicity and prescribing. Drug toxicity and overdose. Substance abuse and dependence. Prescribing, adherence and information for patients. Drug therapy in special situations.