Pathology and Therapeutics for Pharmacists:A Basis for Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Presents an integrated approach to the pathophysiological and pharmacotherapeutic principles underlying the drug treatment of disease. Providing information on anatomy, physiology and aetiology, it aims to lead pharmacists to an understanding of the diagnostic process.

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This book is based upon many years of teaching one of the undergraduate clinical pharmacy courses in the UK, and presents an integrate approach to the pathophysiological and pharmacotherapeutic principles underlying the drug treatment of disease. It shows how a knowledge of normal body function and how that becomes deranged leads to an understanding of disease and, from these concepts, to the rationale behind therapeutic decision making. The essential principles applying to each body system are emphasized strongly throughout, before discussing particular diseases. Pharmacists are introduced to the medical approach to patients and disease, and to medical terminology, as a basis for better communication between them and doctors and other health professionals. Further, the text leads through information on anatomy, physiology, pathology and aetiology to an understanding of the diagnostic process. The use of medicines is then placed in context in relation to other forms of treatment.
Most of the common serious diseases susceptible to drug treatment are covered and there are general chapters on therapeutics, pathological processes (including immunopathology), pain control and infections.