9th edition. JG Hardman, LE Limbird, PB Molinoff, RW Ruddon, and AG Gilman; eds. 1793 pages. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1996. $85.00. ISBN 0-07-026266-7. Order phone 800-262-4729.
Given that "Goodman and Gilman" started in 1941, when it was a revolutionary, major new textbook, today's clinicians probably feel that it has been around forever. The editors of this new ninth edition have not rested on the grand reputation of the preceding eight. Basic pharmacology relevant to clinical understanding continues to be covered, but the editors clearly see clinicians and clinicians-to-be as their main audience, and the text reflects this. They have taken pains to have chapters reviewed both by physicians expert in the fields represented and by clinical pharmacists; their names are listed on the page preceding the preface. Clearly, efforts have been made to cover topics not dealt with before, including gene therapy and serotonin receptors. New chapters on the treatment of migraine and on ocular pharmacology are included. Clinicians who frequently face difficult decisions about dosage should be aware that the book closes with an 80-page Table of pharmacokinetic data relevant to dosage adjustment.
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