Another in the burgeoning series of oxford handbooks. This title aims at summarising useful pharmacology and practical prescribing in a handy pocket sized book; primarily for medical students and junior doctors.
In line with others in the series, each drug is generally allowed a double page spread. Various details are then presented in a standardized format, the same for every drug. Seemingly at random there are ‘teaching points’ throughout the book aimed at giving you that extra bit of practical insight.
Unfortunately the standardized approach becomes repetitious; for each drug in a class, e.g. antiemetic, most of the page is taken up with general information that is the same for each drug and is therefore reproduced many times over. This makes it very frustrating to read as you trudge through generalistic comments, in search of some actual real info on that drug.
The supposedly hand picture symbols used throughout the book are also useless.
In comparison, the BNF structure has been honed over many years – general information is presented on a class and THEN specific information is given. The authors are obviously conscious of not trying to reproduce the BNF and have adopted the opposite system as described above.
The pharmacology information, which is really where the book could shine is a major letdown; being rather unsubstantive and brief.
The book also does not give exhaustive lists of side-effects and therefore misses out some very important side-effects.
In the end, when it comes to prescribing you have to rely on the BNF. It would be foolhardy to base prescrbing on this book. The BNF is a vast pocket sized resource on PRACTICAL prescribing. Pharmacology is best learnt from a specific book such as pharmacology at a glance.
Overall, the book is largely obselete and dogged by an inherently poor structure.
ok here is the deal with the OHPDT, it is not a pharmacology textbook neither it aims to offer an exhaustive coverage of each drug class…if you want these just buy Goodman & Gillman ‘s and knock yourself out!
It offers a short but clinicaly oriented coverage of how to use a drug in every day practise..all those “do’s” and “dont’s” ,what to be careful of, the contraindications,when and how to follow up the patient, what advise should be given and all those every day questions that may arise in a junior doctor’s head when first starts prescribing
let me tell you, after reading it you will feel a lot more confident prescribing drugs…an excellent book,its 5 stars all the way!
In line with others in the series, each drug is generally allowed a double page spread. Various details are then presented in a standardized format, the same for every drug. Seemingly at random there are ‘teaching points’ throughout the book aimed at giving you that extra bit of practical insight.
Unfortunately the standardized approach becomes repetitious; for each drug in a class, e.g. antiemetic, most of the page is taken up with general information that is the same for each drug and is therefore reproduced many times over. This makes it very frustrating to read as you trudge through generalistic comments, in search of some actual real info on that drug.
The supposedly hand picture symbols used throughout the book are also useless.
In comparison, the BNF structure has been honed over many years – general information is presented on a class and THEN specific information is given. The authors are obviously conscious of not trying to reproduce the BNF and have adopted the opposite system as described above.
The pharmacology information, which is really where the book could shine is a major letdown; being rather unsubstantive and brief.
The book also does not give exhaustive lists of side-effects and therefore misses out some very important side-effects.
In the end, when it comes to prescribing you have to rely on the BNF. It would be foolhardy to base prescrbing on this book. The BNF is a vast pocket sized resource on PRACTICAL prescribing. Pharmacology is best learnt from a specific book such as pharmacology at a glance.
Overall, the book is largely obselete and dogged by an inherently poor structure.
ok here is the deal with the OHPDT, it is not a pharmacology textbook neither it aims to offer an exhaustive coverage of each drug class…if you want these just buy Goodman & Gillman ‘s and knock yourself out!
It offers a short but clinicaly oriented coverage of how to use a drug in every day practise..all those “do’s” and “dont’s” ,what to be careful of, the contraindications,when and how to follow up the patient, what advise should be given and all those every day questions that may arise in a junior doctor’s head when first starts prescribing
let me tell you, after reading it you will feel a lot more confident prescribing drugs…an excellent book,its 5 stars all the way!
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