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FOREWORD

Contemporary medical practice necessitates a broad knowledge of drug treatments, which are constantly being updated and modified. I am delighted to write the foreword for this volume which, in the principle of the very best travel guides, is small but packed with essential and easily accessible information. Of all the subjects that are in the medical curriculum, pharmacology can sometimes seem especially abstract and theoretical. A quick flick through the pages of this book that are relevant to one's own speciality is an immediate reminder of the importance of understanding the ways in which the drugs that we routinely prescribe are handled. The clear identification of hazardous side effects and potential interactions is especially welcome. Finally, the section providing current information and management guidelines for commonly encountered medical emergencies is both clear and comprehensive.

Safe use of the modern therapeutic armamentarium is a daunting task for junior doctors and medical students. Although there has been a large growth in electronic resources and some excellent online textbooks have been produced, there remains a critical need for small reference texts that can be carried at all times and used to check drug doses or potential interactions at the point of prescription. The simple precaution of checking facts in any unfamiliar prescribing situation is likely to prevent mistakes, and exemplifies current emphasis on safe-practice and clinical risk management.

I believe that even the most senior specialist could learn something from this book's pages and that a comprehensive up-to-date volume such as this is an essential part of any junior doctor's tool kit, and will prove useful far beyond its target audience.