Principles of Pharmacology A Tropical Approach

This is a practical and informative introduction to basic pharmacological principles and practice, in general and in the context of tropical medicine and diseases. The author presents a concise treatment of systematic pharmacology, discussing the cultural and environmental factors that affect the use of drugs in the tropics. The book highlights the potential inconsistencies and incompatibilities that arise from the use of traditional and orthodox medicine, which can account for the extensive misuse of modern drugs among populations where the two systems are practiced. While emphasis is primarily given to the treatment of a wide range of tropical diseases including malaria, bilharzia and sickle-cell disease, the underlying principles are also fully explained; these provide a conceptual framework for the academic exploration of cultural, genetic, environmental and nutritional factors affecting drug use in the tropics. This will be a useful text for pharmacologists, specialists in tropical medicine and chemotherapy, as well as students and practioners in tropical environments.

This volume, first published in 1991, provides a useful and informative introduction to basic pharmacological principles and practice in the context of tropical medicine and diseases. The author discusses the cultural and environmental factors that affect the use of drugs in the tropics. The book highlights the potential inconsistencies and incompatibilities arising from the use of traditional and orthodox medicine, which can account for the extensive misuse of modern drugs among populations where the two systems are practised. Whilst emphasis is primarily given to the treatment of a wide range of tropical diseases, such as malaria, bilharzia and sickle-cell disease, the underlying principles are also fully explained to provide a conceptual framework for the academic exploration of cultural, genetic, environmental and nutritional factors affecting drug use in the tropics. The author also gives a concise treatment of systematic pharmacology. This makes the volume a useful text for students and practitioners of medicine and pharmacologists and specialists in tropical medicine, and for graduates studying chemotherapy of parasitic diseases. It will also be an important source of reference for medical and pharmacy students.

Preface; Part I. General Background to Drug Usage in the Tropics: 1. Traditional medicine; 2. The problems of availability and quality of modern drugs in the tropics; Part II. Fundamental Pharmacodynamic Principles: 3. Measurement of drug response; 4. Receptors and drug response; Part III. Fundamental Principles in Drug Disposition: 5. Drug administration and factors affecting drug metabolism; 6. Pharmacokinetic principles; Part IV. Factors Affecting Drug Metabolism: 7. The influence of malnutrition and food-derived intoxicants; 8. Genetic factors affecting drug action; Part V. Selective Toxicity: 9. Antimicrobial drugs; 10. Antiprotozoal drugs; 11. Anthelmintics; 12. Anticancer and antiviral drugs; 13. Drug resistance; 14. Strategies for the development of new drugs; Part VI. Systematic Pharmacology: 15. Drug targets in the nervous system; 16. Noradrenergic mechanisms; 17. Cholinergic mechanisms; 18. Anaesthesia; 19. Pain and inflammation; 20. Drugs acting on the central nervous system; 21. Cardiovascular and renal systems; 22. Haemopoietic system; 23. Endocrine system; 24. Local hormones (autocoids); Index.

This volume, first published in 1991, provides a useful and informative introduction to basic pharmacological principles and practice in the context of tropical medicine and diseases. The author discusses the cultural and environmental factors that affect the use of drugs in the tropics.