Reviews for Chemistry and Medicines: An Introductory Text

The average rating for Chemistry and Medicines: An Introductory Text based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-03-12 00:00:00 Ray Acuna What information you'll find in that tome? This book provides a great overview of psychoactive substances - from coffee to cocaine. It's written in a such way and using such words that it should be understandable for basically everyone with high school education and perhaps even for such students. While being about psychoactive substances, it also provides background to help one understand how body handles them: such as their absorption, distribution, termination, tolerance, dependence and other vital information. Basic knowledge of human brain: neurons, neurotransmitters, synapses and so on. There's also topics about addiction and it's treatment options; pharmacological consideration needed for special population: e.g. children and geriatrics. Each class of drug is described before their most common and wide-spread members. There are also a lot of information about legal (in most countries by prescription) drugs, such as anti-depressants, sedatives (e.g. benzodiazepines) and even a little bit about natural remedies. As already said, such tome can only have limited number of substances from each class and also provide most significant information about them. Still, it's amazing work and I can't even consider rating it less than five stars! Where the information comes from? For whom? The content is backed up by scientific articles from peer-reviewed journals. Of course, sometimes studies are contraindicating or simply there's lack of evidence about one or another matter that is impotent nevertheless. So, sometimes the author has to take one or another side or make some assumptions without going into long and probably very complicated discussion to explain all the details. It would make the guide a lot less useful and harder to understand. Such sacrifices are important if the book is itended as board audience as it is. However, usually he seems to be as neutral as possible, while still providing useful information for many different individuals from high-school students to even medical doctors. For example, if up to date edition of this book would be on every desk of general practioner and even psychiatrist in my country, then they would know difference from opiods and opiates, and why it's not good idea to e.g. prescribe 400 mg Tramadol per day with regime of SSRI-s and SNRI-s. With you since year 1975... Robert M. Julien's "A Primer of Drug Action" was first published in year 1975 and there has been a lot of new editions since then. It's important to get the newest edition available as unless for historical purposes using data from some decade(s) old edition may be even lethal in some cases. Of course, I doesn't imply that you should self-medicate yourself using such brief guide as your way to grave. Just that, learning from outdated book is ... heh... stupid Anyway, my first edition was of year 2001, but I have also studied a newer one - twelfth edition - the 2010th edition. Thus' I can testify that the won't just add few new drugs, change the dates and collect the money. No, noway! It has been greatly upgraded, like whole book has been put back to the "drawing-board" and made once again even better!

Review # 2 was written on 2019-05-26 00:00:00 Fredericka Cobey This book was an undertaking. Both exhaustive and at times exhausting. But I literally could not (or rather would not) put this book down. It is packed with essential info on every dang page. Crucial reading for wannabe psychopharmochology geeks. If your addicted to books about drugs, and Lord knows I am, than get ready for an over dose of bitter goodness.