Prescribing at a Glance

Preface v
How to use your textbook vi
About the companion website ix
Part 1 Basic principles of prescribing 1
1 Introduction: principles of good prescribing 2
2 Revision: pharmacokinetics 4
3 Using the British National Formulary 6
4 Taking a medication history 8
5 Reviewing current medicines 10
Part 2 Drug selection 13
6 How to choose a drug 14
7 How to choose frequency 15
8 How to choose a dose 16
9 How to choose route of administration and formulation 18
10 How to choose duration of treatment, define treatmentobjectives and measure outcomes 20
11 Assessing suitability of treatment regimens for patients21
12 Worked example 1: Chapters 6-11 22
13 Worked example 2: Chapters 6-11 23
Part 3 Prescribing for special groups 25
14 Prescribing in liver disease 26
15 Prescribing in renal disease 28
16 Prescribing in children 30
17 Prescribing in the elderly 32
18 Prescribing in pregnancy and breast feeding 34
Part 4 Logistics of prescribing 37
19 How to write a drug prescription 38
20 Communicating with patients about medicines 40
21 Therapeutic drug monitoring 42
22 Dealing with adverse drug reactions 44
23 Avoiding drug interactions (drugs, food and alternativemedicines) 46
24 Avoiding prescribing errors 48
Part 5 Specific drug groups 51
25 Using drugs for the gastrointestinal system 52
26 Using drugs for the cardiovascular system I 54
27 Using drugs for the cardiovascular system II 56
28 Using drugs for the cardiovascular system III 58
29 Using drugs for the respiratory system 60
30 Using drugs for the neurological system I 62
31 Using drugs for the neurological system II 64
32 Using drugs for infection 66
33 Using drugs for the endocrine system I 68
34 Using drugs for the endocrine system II 70
35 How to use drugs for the musculoskeletal system 72
36 Using drugs in haematology and oncology 74
37 Using drugs in anaesthesia 76
38 An approach to common prescribing requests I 78
39 An approach to common prescribing requests II 80
Appendix Cross references to Prescribing Scenarios at a Glance81
Index 8