Five percent of all accident and emergency admissions are caused by prescribed medicines. This figure rises to an alarming twelve percent in elderly patients. This may be through inappropriate use or dosage, side effects, drug:drug interactions, failing metabolism in the liver and reduced excretion by the kidneys. Also, erratic compliance with drug taking by a large proportion of patients complicates and sometimes worsens iatrogenic harm. This practical guide details the most common errors made in prescribing and is ideal for day-to-day use. The clear, accessible language used throughout makes for quick and easy reference. It clarifies complex scientific issues and presents them in a practical format, indispensable for professional life. It is highly recommended for all prescribers, clinical pharmacists, medical students and Foundation Year doctors. It is also a vital resource in the medication review now required for the Quality and Outcomes Framework for General Practitioners in England.

This fourth edition of How Drugs Work equips readers with a set of clear concepts for matching the pharmacology to the diagnosis, and has been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest knowledge and terminology. Rather than providing overwhelmingly comprehensive information, it condenses the aspects of pharmacology directly relevant to everyday practice into a concise, accessible volume, including material on the half life of drugs, patient non-compliance and severe chronic inflammation.

'The study of disease and its treatment is a life-long intellectual journey which has engaged some of humankind's finest minds and kindest hearts. We are still on that fascinating voyage. Every journey begins with a single step, and that step is the purpose of this book. It is short enough to be read from cover to cover, re-read, studied and learnt. Those who do that should find that they understand much that they encounter in patients, whether in the wards, outpatients or in primary care. [It] should also ease the student clinician's passage to more comprehensive texts, which can be intimidating in their volume and complexity, if there has been no prior introduction.' - Hugh McGavock and Denis Johnston, in the Preface. The study of disease and its treatment is a life-long intellectual journey which has engaged some of humankind's finest minds and kindest hearts. We, the authors, are still on that fascinating voyage. Every journey begins with a single step, and that step is the purpose of this book. It is short enough to be read from cover to cover, re-read, studied and learnt...This concise and practical introduction to the vast and complex subject of medical treatment is jargon-free and easy to read. It aids in the understanding of everyday situations on the wards, in out-patient clinics and in the primary care setting. The handy format is ideal as a ready reference along with its companion volume "How Drugs Work, Second Edition", by Hugh McGavock. It is highly recommended as an undergraduate textbook for students of nursing and medicine, especially those embarking on clinical training, and is also useful for Nurse Practitioners. Primary care nurses with diagnosis and treatment responsibilities will find the guidance invaluable.