Product Description

The gold standard text for the therapeutics course mandatory in pharmacy schools. Now in its sixth edition, this classic text continues its long-standing tradition of offering unparalleled guidance in the development of pharmaceutical care plans. The book provides a unique process of thinking about pharmacotherapy the process which uses evidence-based approaches to the drug treatment of diseases.

Features:
*FREE Online Resource Center for professors and students - study materials, web chapters, questions and answers, and updates
*NEW Key Concepts begin each chapter
*Excellent use of algorithms, tables, and charts – provides clear recommendations
*“Clinical Controversies” in the treatment sections of disease-oriented chapters

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #356867 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 2802 pages

From The New England Journal of Medicine
"Medicines," wrote Leonardo da Vinci, "will be well used when the doctor understands their nature, what man is, what life is, and what constitution and health are. Know these well and you will know their opposites; you will then know well how to devise a remedy." As the coauthor of a textbook on clinical pharmacology and drug therapy for medical students, in which this principle is espoused, I applaud any attempt by others to do likewise. That is indeed the basis for this textbook on drug therapy for clinical pharmacists.

An introductory section on some of the basic principles of clinical pharmacology is followed by 16 sections on the management of diseases, organized according to systems of the body. In each of the chapters dealing with individual diseases, the authors first discuss the pathophysiologic principles and then outline the methods of drug therapy appropriate to each, firmly grounding the therapy in the context of the pathophysiology. Some of the sections on systems of the body include accounts of the evaluation of the diseases to which the system is prey. In each case, the arguments for using one drug or another are based on the most recent evidence, cited in the bibliography at the end of each chapter, although one of the cornerstones of evidence-based medicine, the number of patients who would need to be treated to produce a given outcome (known as the number needed to treat), is conspicuously absent. The discussions are for the most part excellent, but the chapters that include contributions from physicians have a slight edge over those that do not.

It is strange that such a high-quality text is not accompanied by better diagrams. Although there are several good anatomical diagrams, there are few that illustrate normal physiology or the pathophysiology of disease, and those that are provided do not show the use of drugs and where they act. In contrast, for virtually every condition, there is a flow chart indicating what to do when a test is positive or negative, when a patient has a particular clinical feature that might modify therapy, or when a patient does or does not have a response to treatment. But these diagrams are difficult to use. Moreover, their rigid format does not accommodate an understanding that the enormous variability among the patients one encounters in everyday practice greatly militates against such an approach in all but the simplest stepwise problem, such as the treatment of asthma, which is clearly illustrated by the simplicity of the flow chart for asthma.

The introductory chapters are disappointing. To open with a chapter on the economics of drug therapy surely gives the wrong emphasis, even in an increasingly cost-conscious health care system. The chapter on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics sets a high bar to vault, and other chapters are too short to allow their authors a long enough run up to succeed. An introduction of only 90 pages (less than 4 percent of the text) is not enough, although to be fair, some general aspects of drug therapy are discussed in other chapters (for instance, there is a description of how to alter drug dosages in the section on renal disorders). I found few mistakes in the book and none of importance, except for the curious dose ranges for angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors listed in the chapter on heart failure, with daily doses as high as 400 mg given for drugs such as enalapril.

This book is a good reference for clinical pharmacists who can create their own diagrams. But to get the most out of the text, they will need to know their basics pretty well and be prepared to flesh out certain points by consulting the review literature.

Jeffrey K. Aronson, D.Phil., F.R.C.P.
Copyright © 2000 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

Review
"This text remains a gold standard pharmacotherapy text...This edition of Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach is an important resource for teaching or practicing optimal pharmacotherapy. Educators and students will find it indispensable. Practitioners can rely on it as a reference and to advance their knowledge and skills. The authors have created a definitive scholarly resource designed to provide optimal pharmacotherapy." (The Annals of Pharmacotherapy )

From the Back Cover

Joseph T. DiPiro, PharmD, FCCP

Robert L. Talbert, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS

Gary C. Yee, PharmD, FCCP

Gary R. Matzke, PharmD, FCP, FCCP

Barbara G. Wells, PharmD, FASHP, FCCP, BCPP

L. Michael Posey, BS Pharm

"The best pharmacotherapy textbook available.”

—Annals of Pharmacotherapy on an earlier edition

Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach is the authority on evidence-based drug treatment. The gold standard in pharmacotherapy for fifteen years, it is an essential text in most schools of pharmacy and in the education of other healthcare professionals, and a trusted resource in practice.

IN THE SIXTH EDITION:

• NEW Key Concepts with Locator Icons—Use the Key Concepts to see what is most important, and use the Locator Icons to quickly locate the discussion of each important concept within the chapter.

• NEW Clinical Controversies show that the understanding of drug therapeutics is evolving and that there is not always a definitive consensus.

• NEW chapter on The Documentation of Pharmacy Services explains how to document pharmaceutical care in a systematic way and its importance in obtaining reimbursement and in communicating with other health professionals.

• NEW chapter consolidating coverage of Solid-Organ Transplantation

• NEW expanded coverage of dermatological conditions: separate chapters on Acne Vulgaris and Psoriasis; new chapter on Atopic Dermatitis

• NEW chapter on Dermatologic Drug Reactions and Self-Treatable Skin Disorders guides you through the likely causes of a particular skin problem and provides what you need to know about the initiation and monitoring of therapy.

• NEW section of color photographs helps to identify common skin problems.

• NEW format of clinical presentation information is more accessible and user-friendly.

• NEW Glossary

AVAILABLE TO PURCHASERS OF THE BOOK

Pharmacotherapyonline.com

• The Online Resource Center for Students and Faculty Includes—Learning Objectives, Interactive Test Questions for Self-Assessment, and more.

• Online Drug Update Newsletter-PNN Pharmacotherapy Line edited by Michael Posey. This newsletter keeps you updated on the latest drug developments.

Fully searchable e-book version of the entire textbook in an instant download to your computer.

ALSO AVAILABLE:

Schwinghammer, PHARMACOTHERAPY CASEBOOK, Sixth Edition

ISBN 0-07-143360-0

Featuring over 140 cases, this essential guide develops skills in problem analysis and decision making, and demonstrates the relevance and importance of a sound scientific foundation for pharmacy practice.

SAVE $20.00 WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE TEXTBOOK/STUDY GUIDE VALUE PACK! (ISBN 0-07-144791-1)

Coming this fall

Wells, DiPiro, Schwinghammer & Hamilton, PHARMACOTHERAPY HANDOOK, Sixth Edition Print and PDA

ISBN 0-07-143322-8

This handy reference provides quick information to drug selection and management for more than 85 of the most common disorders.

Visit www.pharmacotherapyonline.com

Customer Reviews

Best Textbook for Pharmacotherapy
The 2005 edition of Pharmacotherapy is one of the best investments I have ever made. It is a valuable tool in mentoring, teaching and precepting pharmacy students. I use the helpful chapter objectives to zero in on key concepts and learning objectives. At the end of each chapter there are short, well-written quiz questions that serve to reinforce important information. The companion website is well structured and easy to navigate. The icing on the cake is the ability to download an e-version of the text on my computer, allowing convenient access to the text at work. (Each textbook has a code and directions good for one down-load). All in all, this is an excellent resource that would be a great reference text for anyone practicing, teaching or studying the profession of pharmacy.

Pharmacotherapy not pharmacology
Addressing the negative comments given to this book by a Dr. Doctor who's going to become yet another doctor, if you truly have your PhD and PharmD (from a halfway decent school), you would recognize the difference between pharmacology and pharmacotherapy. It's awfully troubling if you don't. In agreement with the "triDoc", Goodman and Gillman's is the superior of the 2... in terms of PHARMACOLOGY. However, if you want a very good reference for a practical approach in the treatment options of certain disease states (i.e. PHARMACOTHERAPY), this book should be your choice. It's a wonderful and much used reference. I will agree with another reviewer in that it may be worthwhile to check into buying the hand book addition first (due to its more compact size and less cost). Pharmacotherapy versus pharmacology...Hmmmmmm.

The Standard by Which Others are Compared
It's difficult to write a review of this book because most of the people who are even thinking of buying it have probably used it already. They have seen it in the library, their professors have shown it to them, or it is required for the course they are taking.

So what I am going to do is talk about the differences and updates in this the sixth edition.

1. Icons - Locator Icons are used to allow the reader to quickly locate each important concept within the chapter.

2. Clinical Controversies -- showing that the understansing of drugs isn't perfect, but evolving.

3. Documentation to improve billing and general communications.

4. A chapter on Solid-Organ Transplantation.

5. Expanded coverage of dermatological conditions: Acne Vulgaris, Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis.

6. New chapter on dermatologic drug reactions.

Finally the on-line web site devoted to this publication is greatly expanded and enlarged.