Levine's Pharmacology. Drug Actions and Reactions

'I have been teaching Pharmacology at UCLA for almost 20 years and for most of that time we have used as the recommended text Pharmacology: Drug Actions and Reactions by Ruth Levine. The book is idea l ... I would continue to recommend it over any other book now in print.' - Dr Donald J. Jenden, Professor of Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA (of previous editions)

This is a revised and updated edition of Dr Levine's classic textbook on basic pharmacologic principles and the general concepts of chemical-biological interactions within the human body. Originally written for students majoring in the sciences and the humanities, it has been widely accepted by pharmacology, medical, pharmacy, veterinary and other allied health students. The book is known for its exceptionally thorough coverage, superb presentation and intelligent organization.

Beginning with the historical perspective and a discussion of the nomenclature and definitions, the book covers the sites and mechanisms of drug actions, how drugs reach these sites and how they are eliminated from the body. Topics such as dose-response and time-response relationships, response variability, drug toxicity, drug abuse and dependence, and drug-related alteration of physiological function are covered. The major new areas covered in the seventh edition include the molecular structure of drug receptors, the cytochrome P450 family of drug metabolizing enzymes, signal transduction and second messenger systems, and drug actions on neural and hormonal receptors important to cardiovascular regulation.

An excellent glossary of medical and pharmacological terms and much new material added to eight comprehensive appendices, including data on cardiovascular drugs, continue to make this a valuable and enduring reference. The book is noted for its exceptionally complete index, in which the majority of drugs in use are listed.

Contents:

1. The Heritage of Pharmacology 2. The Scope of Pharmacology 3. How Drugs Act on the Living Organism 4. How Drugs Reach Their Site of Action: I. General Principles of Passage of Drugs Across Biologic Barriers 5. How Drugs Reach Their Site of Action: II. Absorption 6. How Drugs Reach Their Site of Action: III. Distribution 7. How the Actions of Drugs are Terminated: I. Excretion 8. How the Actions of Drugs are Terminated: II. Biotransformation 9. General Principles of the Quantitative Aspects of Drug Action: I. Dose-response Relationships 10. General Principles of the Quantitative Aspects of Drug Action: II. Time-response Relationships 11. Factors Modifying the Effects of Drugs in Individuals: I. Variability in Response Attributable to the Biologic System 12. Factors Modifying the Effects of Drugs in Individuals: II. Variability in Response Attributable to the Conditions of Administration 13. Drug Toxicity 14. How Drugs Alter Physiologic Function 15. The Pharmacologic Aspects of Drug Abuse 16. The Development and Evaluation of New Drugs