Essential Practical Prescribing is an important new textbook with a clinical, ward-based focus. It is specifically designed to help new foundation doctors working on the hospital wards and in the community, as well as medical students preparing for the Prescribing Safety Assessment.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1 Trials of a Junior Doctor
• Prescribing
• Being a medical student
• Being a junior doctor
• Common pitfalls
• The ‘DRUGS’ safety check
• References
• Chapter 2 Emergency Department
• Cardiac arrest
• Anaphylaxis
• Overdose
• Acute alcohol withdrawal
• References
• Chapter 3 Cardiology
• Acute coronary syndrome
• Acute left ventricular failure
• Chronic heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Tachycardia
• Bradycardia
• Hypertension
• References
• Chapter 4 Respiratory
• Acute asthma
• Chronic asthma
• Acute exacerbation of COPD
• COPD – long-term management
• Community-acquired pneumonia
• Prescribing in other respiratory infections
• References
• Chapter 5 Gastroenterology
• Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage
• Acute inflammatory bowel disease
• Acute infective diarrhoea
• Acute hepatitis
• Constipation
• References
• Chapter 6 Neurology
• Stroke
• Thrombolysis
• Prescribing for strokes not amenable to thrombolysis
• Bacterial meningitis
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Parkinson's disease
• Levodopa (L-DOPA): rational and evidence
• Dopamine agonists: essential pharmacology
• Other aspects of Parkinson's disease
• Case outcome and discharge
• References
• Chapter 7 Surgery
• Fluid management
• Maintenance electrolytes
• Resuscitation fluids
• Blood products
• Postoperative pain
• Constipation
• References
• Chapter 8 Care of the Elderly
• Bone protection
• Delirium
• Polypharmacy
• Hyponatraemia
• References
• Chapter 9 Anticipatory Prescribing at the End of Life
• Pain
• Breathlessness and excess secretions
• Nausea and vomiting
• Agitation
• References
• Chapter 10 Renal
• Acute kidney injury
• Hyperkalaemia
• References
• Chapter 11 Microbiology
• Sepsis and antibiotics
• Infections related to antibiotic use
• Prescribing for Clostridium difficile infection
• Antibiotics in Clostridium difficile infection: rationale and evidence
• Neutropenic sepsis
• References
• Chapter 12 Rheumatology
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
• References
• Chapter 13 Dermatology
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Allergic rashes
• Cellulitis
• Fungal infections
• Acne
• References
• Chapter 14 Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Introduction
• Pain in pregnancy
• Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
• Hypertensive disease in pregnancy
• Diabetic disease in pregnancy
• Labour
• Gynaecology – contraception
• Gynaecology – pain and bleeding in early pregnancy
• References
• Chapter 15 Diabetes
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state
• Hypoglycaemia
• Other aspects of prescribing in diabetes
• References
• Chapter 16 Anticoagulation
• Venous thromboembolism
• Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation
• Anticoagulation reversal
• References