Principles of Drug Therapy, Second Edition provides comprehensive coverage of current drug therapy in neurology while providing the background information that neurologists and other clinicians need to understand its rationale. The range of new drugs available for treatment of neurological disorders is expanding rapidly along with rapid advances in the neurosciences that are uncovering disease mechanisms. Although there are many sources of drug information, most are limited to basic information about indications, dose and side effects. However the complexity of the nervous system is enormous and the information needed to understand drug effects is accordingly often not readily available in a single source. The book addresses that issue by presenting 18 focused, disease-related chapters by authors who are expert clinical sub-specialists as well as experts on drug therapy.
The first chapter on fundamentals of drug therapy in neurology provides a readable synopsis of how the classic pharmacology concepts such as pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are related to therapy in neurology. This section also discusses the pathogenesis of potentially serious side effects such as skin rashes and liver disorders, and the role of pharmacogenetics in both drug effect and side effects. Outstanding chapters on movement disorders, epilepsy, and headaches cover major areas of drug treatment in neurology practice. Additional chapters cover stroke, increased intracranial pressure in the intensive care unit, dementia, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and spasticity, neuromuscular disorders and pain. Sleep, central nervous system infections and HIV, and drug intoxications are also covered. Areasof special interest to child neurologists covered in the book include treatment of genetic metabolic disorders and use of stimulants and other medications for childhood cognitive disorders. An excellent chapter is also provided on drug treatment of psychiatric disorders because of the important of psychiatric drugs in neurology practice. This edition has been completely re-written from the successful edition published in the 90s and enlarged commensurate with the exciting progress in treatment in neurology.