Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

There's no easier, faster, or more practical way to learn the really tough subjects

Pharmacology Demystified covers the practical aspects of pharmacology that you need to master to become a healthcare or nursing professional. This self-teaching guide comes complete with key points, background information, quizzes at the end of each chapter, and even a final exam. Simple enough for beginners but challenging enough for advanced students, this is a lively and entertaining brush-up, introductory text, or classroom supplement.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (p. xiii)
• Chapter 1 An Inside Look at Pharmacology (p. 1)
• What Is Pharmacology? (p. 2)
• The Source of Drugs (p. 4)
• Drugs Names (p. 6)
• Prescription versus Over-the-Counter Drugs (p. 7)
• Drug Effects (p. 7)
• Drug Safety (p. 8)
• Locating Drug Information (p. 11)
• Drug Orders (p. 12)
• The "Five Rights" Way of Drug Administration (p. 16)
• Summary (p. 20)
• Quiz (p. 21)
• Chapter 2 Drug Action and Drug Interactions (p. 23)
• Drug Actions (p. 24)
• The First Pass Effect (p. 33)
• Pharmacodynamics (p. 33)
• Categories of Drug Action (p. 35)
• Therapeutic Index and Therapeutic Range (p. 35)
• Side Effects (p. 36)
• Summary (p. 38)
• Quiz (p. 39)
• Chapter 3 Pharmacology and the Nursing Process (p. 41)
• The Nursing Process (p. 42)
• Nursing Diagnosis (p. 47)
• Patient Care Plan (p. 48)
• Teaching the Patient About Drugs (p. 50)
• Impact of Cultural Influences in Drug Administration (p. 52)
• Mother and the Fetus (p. 54)
• Pediatrics (p. 54)
• Elderly (p. 55)
• Summary (p. 57)
• Quiz (p. 58)
• Chapter 4 Substance Abuse (p. 61)
• Drug Misuse and Abuse (p. 61)
• Behavioral Patterns of Addiction (p. 63)
• Healthcare Professionals and Substance Abuse (p. 64)
• Detecting Substance Abuse (p. 65)
• Delayed Action (p. 67)
• Substances That Can Be Abused (p. 71)
• Dependence versus Tolerance (p. 71)
• Pathophysiologic Changes Occurring in Substance Abuse (p. 72)
• Cultural Aspects of Substance Abuse (p. 72)
• Commonly Abused Substances (p. 73)
• Nursing Assessment (p. 77)
• Summary (p. 78)
• Quiz (p. 79)
• Chapter 5 Principles of Medication Administration (p. 81)
• The Nursing Process and Medication Administration (p. 82)
• Assessment Required for Specific Drugs (p. 84)
• Administering Medication (p. 87)
• Evaluating the Patient After Administering Medication (p. 92)
• Controlling Narcotics (p. 93)
• Summary (p. 94)
• Quiz (p. 94)
• Chapter 6 Route of Administration (p. 97)
• Medication and Routes (p. 97)
• Z-Track Injection Technique (p. 107)
• Tips for Minimizing Pain (p. 109)
• Summary (p. 110)
• Quiz (p. 111)
• Chapter 7 Dose Calculations (p. 113)
• The Metric System and Medication (p. 113)
• Converting Metric Units (p. 116)
• Formulas for Calculating the Desired Dose (p. 117)
• Parenteral Medications (p. 119)
• Summary (p. 121)
• Quiz (p. 122)
• Chapter 8 Herbal Therapy (p. 125)
• Inside Herbal Therapy (p. 125)
• Forms of Herbal Therapies (p. 127)
• Hazards of Herbal Therapeutics (p. 128)
• Herbals Therapy and the Nursing Process (p. 129)
• The Do's and Don'ts about Herbs (p. 130)
• Commonly Used Herbs (p. 131)
• Summary (p. 135)
• Quiz (p. 135)
• Chapter 9 Vitamins and Minerals (p. 137)
• Vitamins (p. 137)
• Vitamins and the Nursing Process (p. 148)
• Summary (p. 154)
• Quiz (p. 154)
• Chapter 10 Fluid and Electrolyte Therapy (p. 157)
• Body Fluids (p. 158)
• Electrolytes (p. 158)
• Fluid Concentration (p. 159)
• IV Fluids (p. 160)
• Blood and Blood Products (p. 161)
• Fluid Replacement (p. 161)
• Summary (p. 180)
• Quiz (p. 181)
• Chapter 11 Nutritional Support Therapies (p. 183)
• Nutrition (p. 183)
• Nursing Process (p. 189)
• The Nursing Processing and Parenteral Nutritional Therapy (p. 192)
• Summary (p. 193)
• Quiz (p. 194)
• Chapter 12 Inflammation (p. 197)
• An Inside Look at Inflammation (p. 197)
• Combating Inflammation (p. 199)
• Summary (p. 201)
• Quiz (p. 201)
• Chapter 13 Antimicrobials-Fighting Infection (p. 203)
• Microorganisms-A Small Formidable Opponent (p. 204)
• Medication-A Formidable Defender (p. 204)
• Superinfections (p. 205)
• Preparing to Administer Antimicrobial Medication (p. 207)
• Penicillin, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 214)
• Penicillin and Patient Education (p. 215)
• Cephalosporins, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 217)
• Macrolides and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 224)
• Macrolides, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 224)
• Clindamycins and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 225)
• Lincosamides, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 225)
• Vancomycin and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 227)
• Vancomycin, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 228)
• Aminoglycosides and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 229)
• Aminoglycosides, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 230)
• Tetracyclines and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 233)
• Tetracyclines, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 234)
• Chloramphenicol and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 236)
• Chloramphenicol Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 236)
• Fluoroquinolones and Drug-Drug Interactions (p. 238)
• Fluoroquinolones, Nursing Diagnosis, and Collaborative Problems (p. 238)
• Sulfonamides (p. 241)
• Tuberculosis (p. 243)
• Antifungal Drugs (Antimycotic Drugs) (p. 246)
• Antimalarial (p. 247)
• Anthelmintic (p. 248)
• Summary (p. 250)
• Quiz (p. 251)
• Chapter 14 Respiratory Diseases (p. 253)
• A Brief Look at Respiration (p. 253)
• Upper Respiratory Tract Disorders (p. 256)
• Lower Respiratory Disorders (p. 261)
• Summary (p. 266)
• Quiz (p. 267)
• Chapter 15 Nervous System Drugs (p. 269)
• A Brief Look at the Nervous System (p. 269)
• Central Nervous System Stimulants (p. 271)
• CNS Depressants (p. 273)
• Autonomic Nervous System (p. 281)
• Cholinergics (p. 287)
• Anticholinergics (p. 287)
• Antiparkinsonism-Anticholinergic Drugs (p. 288)
• Antipsychotics (p. 295)
• Phenothiazines (p. 296)
• Depression (p. 297)
• Summary (p. 301)
• Quiz (p. 302)
• Chapter 16 Narcotic Agonists (p. 305)
• A Close Look at Pain (p. 305)
• Influences on Administrating Pain Medication (p. 306)
• Components of Pain (p. 307)
• The Gate Control Theory (p. 307)
• Defining Pain (p. 307)
• Pain Assessment (p. 308)
• Pharmacologic Management of Pain (p. 309)
• Summary (p. 311)
• Quiz (p. 312)
• Chapter 17 Immunologic Agents (p. 315)
• A Brief Look at Immunity (p. 315)
• Vaccines (p. 321)
• Preventing Diseases (p. 322)
• Summary (p. 325)
• Quiz (p. 326)
• Chapter 18 Gastrointestinal System (p. 329)
• A Brief Look at the Gastrointestinal System (p. 329)
• Summary (p. 344)
• Quiz (p. 345)
• Chapter 19 Cardiac Circulatory Medications (p. 347)
• A Brief Look at the Cardiovascular System (p. 347)
• Circulatory Disorders (p. 364)
• Summary (p. 369)
• Quiz (p. 370)
• Chapter 20 Skin Disorders (p. 373)
• A Brief Look at the Skin (p. 373)
• Skin Disorders (p. 374)
• Summary (p. 382)
• Quiz (p. 383)
• Chapter 21 Endocrine Medications (p. 385)
• A Brief Look at the Endocrine System (p. 385)
• Drugs and Hormones (p. 386)
• Summary (p. 396)
• Quiz (p. 397)
• Chapter 22 Disorders of the Eye and Ear (p. 399)
• Eye Disorders (p. 399)
• Patient Education for Eye Medication (p. 403)
• Ear Disorders (p. 405)
• Patient Education for Ear Medication (p. 408)
• Summary (p. 408)
• Quiz (p. 409)
• Final Exam (p. 411)
• Answers to Quiz and Final Exam Questions (p. 425)
• Appendix (p. 431)
• Index (p. 437)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Jim Keogh is on the faculty of St. Peter's College and Columbia University. He is the author of more than 60 books, including McGraw-Hill's Microbiology Demystified and Java Demystified.