Section 1
General Pharmacological Principles
1. Introduction, Routes of Drug Administration 1
2. Pharmacokinetics: Membrane Transport, Absorption and Distribution of Drugs 10
3. Pharmacokinetics: Metabolism and Excretion of Drugs, Kinetics of Elimination 22
4. Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of Drug Action; Receptor Pharmacology 37
5. Aspects of Pharmacotherapy, Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Development 61
6. Adverse Drug Effects 82
Section 2
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System: General Considerations 92
7. Cholinergic System and Drugs 99
8. Anticholinergic Drugs and Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia 113
9. Adrenergic System and Drugs 124
10. Antiadrenergic Drugs (Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists) and
Drugs for Glaucoma 140
Section 3
Autacoids and Related Drugs
11. Histamine and Antihistaminics 159
12. 5-Hydroxytryptamine, its Antagonists and Drug Therapy of Migraine 170
13. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes (Eicosanoids) and Platelet Activating Factor 181
14. Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Antipyretic-Analgesics 192
15. Antirheumatoid and Antigout Drugs 210
Contents
Section 4
Respiratory System Drugs
16. Drugs for Cough and Bronchial Asthma 218
Section 5
Hormones and Related Drugs
Introduction 234
17. Anterior Pituitary Hormones 236
18. Thyroid Hormone and Thyroid Inhibitors 245
19. Insulin, Oral Hypoglycaemic Drugs and Glucagon 258
20. Corticosteroids 282
21. Androgens and Drugs for Erectile Dysfunction 296
22. Estrogens, Progestins and Contraceptives 306
23. Oxytocin and Other Drugs Acting on Uterus 329
24. Drugs Affecting Calcium Balance 335
Section 6
Drugs Acting on Peripheral (Somatic)
Nervous System
25. Skeletal Muscle Relaxants 347
26. Local Anaesthetics 360
Section 7
Drugs Acting on Central Nervous System
27. General Anaesthetics 372
28. Ethyl and Methyl Alcohols 388
29. Sedative-Hypnotics 397
30. Antiepileptic Drugs 411
31. Antiparkinsonian Drugs 425
32. Drugs Used in Mental Illness: Antipsychotic and Antimanic Drugs 435
33. Drugs Used in Mental Illness: Antidepressant and Antianxiety Drugs 454
34. Opioid Analgesics and Antagonists 469
35. CNS Stimulants and Cognition Enhancers 486
viii CONTENTS
Section 8
Cardiovascular Drugs
Cardiac Electrophysiological Considerations 492
36. Drugs Affecting Renin-Angiotensin System and Plasma Kinins 495
37. Cardiac Glycosides and Drugs for Heart Failure 512
38. Antiarrhythmic Drugs 526
39. Antianginal and Other Anti-ischaemic Drugs 539
40. Antihypertensive Drugs 558
Section 9
Drugs Acting on Kidney
Relevant Physiology of Urine Formation 575
41. Diuretics 579
42. Antidiuretics 593
Section 10
Drugs Affecting Blood and Blood Formation
43. Haematinics and Erythropoietin 599
44. Drugs Affecting Coagulation, Bleeding and Thrombosis 613
45. Hypolipidaemic Drugs and Plasma Expanders 634
Section 11
Gastrointestinal Drugs
46. Drugs for Peptic Ulcer and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 647
47. Antiemetic, Prokinetic and Digestant Drugs 661
48. Drugs for Constipation and Diarrhoea 672
Section 12
Antimicrobial Drugs
49. Antimicrobial Drugs: General Considerations 688
50. Sulfonamides, Cotrimoxazole and Quinolones 704
51. Beta-Lactam Antibiotics 716
CONTENTS ix
52. Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol (Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics) 733
53. Aminoglycoside Antibiotics 743
54. Macrolide, Lincosamide, Glycopeptide and Other Antibacterial Antibiotics;
Urinary Antiseptics 752
55. Antitubercular Drugs 765
56. Antileprotic Drugs 780
57. Antifungal Drugs 787
58. Antiviral Drugs 798
59. Antimalarial Drugs 816
60. Antiamoebic and Other Antiprotozoal Drugs 836
61. Anthelmintic Drugs 849
Section 13
Chemotherapy of Neoplastic Diseases
62. Anticancer Drugs 857
Section 14
Miscellaneous Drugs
63. Immunosuppressant Drugs 878
64. Drugs Acting on Skin and Mucous Membranes 886
65. Antiseptics, Disinfectants and Ectoparasiticides 897
66. Chelating Agents 905
67. Vitamins 909
68. Vaccines and Sera 919
69. Drug Interactions 928
Appendices
Appendix 1: Solution to Problem Directed Study 935
Appendix 2: List of Essential Medicines 957
Appendix 3: Prescribing in Pregnancy 962
Appendix 4: Drugs in Breastfeeding 965
Appendix 5: Drugs and Fixed Dose Combinations Banned in India 969
Selected References for Further Reading 971
Index 975

In the 28 years of its existence, the Essentials of Medical Pharmacology is appearing as the 7th edition. Commensurate with tremendous transformation of pharmacology and clinical medicine in this period, the book has undergone successive changes to reflect the current status of pharmacological knowledge and therapeutic practices. Selection of the subject content of this edition places due emphasis on the understanding gained in mechanism of action of drugs, as well as on evidence based medicine. It abundantly quotes current guidelines issued by WHO and other eminent professional bodies as well as by Indian National Health Programmes to authenticate therapeutic recommendations.

Over the past years, the book has been a trend-setter for pharmacology texts in India. It has changed the outlook of medical students/professionals towards pharmacology from a subject that is to be set aside after passing the examination, to one which remains a useful companion in the clinic. The ever expanding readership of the book, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, is a testimony to its relevance to the needs of health science students and doctors in this region. The current edition is designed to fulfill the needs even more completely.
Key Features
• Thoroughly revised chapters to include recent developments in theory and practice, as well as new drugs released in India.

• ‘Problem directed study’, a novel exercise which introduces the reader to the process of therapeutic decision making.

• Enriched illustrations, flow charts, tables and boxed point-wise summaries of important aspects.

• Comprehensive and systematic coverage of drugs, highlighting their therapeutic status.

• Text arranged under hierarchical headings, reorganization of some chapters and revised classification of certain classes of drugs makes the presentation highly user friendly.