Fundamentals of Pharmacology, 10th edition

Published by Pearson (17 September 2026) © 2027

  • Shane Bullock Monash University
  • Elizabeth Manias Melbourne University , The University of Melbourne
Products list

Access details

  • Instant access once purchased
  • Offline access via app

Features

  • Learn with videos and interactives*
  • Highlight-to-translate in 100+ languages
  • Practice with quizzes and flashcards
  • AI-powered study support*

*Available for some titles

Products list

Access details

  • Instant access once purchased
  • Offline access via app

Features

  • Learn with videos and interactives*
  • Highlight-to-translate in 100+ languages
  • Practice with quizzes and flashcards
  • AI-powered study support*

*Available for some titles

Title overview

Fundamentals of Pharmacology helps you build a strong understanding of how medicines work and how pharmacological principles inform safe, effective patient care. Using a body systems approach, it explains the relationship between drug actions, physiology and pathophysiology, enabling you to understand why medicines produce therapeutic effects, adverse effects and clinical risks. Designed for students and practitioners across the health sciences, the content balances scientific foundations with clinical application, helping you develop the knowledge and reasoning skills needed to support medication management in a wide range of healthcare settings.

By connecting pharmacology theory to real clinical practice, this resource helps you develop the confidence to make informed decisions about medication therapy. You will learn to interpret how medicines affect different body systems, evaluate potential benefits and risks, and apply pharmacological principles to patient care scenarios. Clinical decision-making frameworks, integrated case studies and visual learning tools support deeper understanding and help you link pharmacology, pathophysiology and clinical management. The focus on medicine groups and underlying principles also prepares you to adapt your knowledge as treatments and clinical guidelines evolve.

Who It's For

Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students in nursing and other health science disciplines, including pharmacy, podiatry, optometry, paramedicine, physiotherapy and related fields. It is also suitable for students studying basic sciences and for qualified health professionals seeking to strengthen or refresh their pharmacology knowledge as part of continuing professional development.

Table of contents

  • Section 1: An introduction to sociocultural aspects, law and ethics
  • 1. Sociocultural aspects
  • 2. Health professionals and the law
  • 3. Ethical issues in health care
  • Section 2: Medicine administration and professional responsibilities
  • 4. Medicine formulations, storage and routes of administration
  • 5. The clinical decision making process
  • 6. Medicine administration strategies and documentation
  • 7. Medication errors
  • Section 3: General aspects of pharmacology
  • 8. Drug nomenclature
  • 9. Pharmacokinetics
  • 10. Pharmacodynamics
  • 11. Pharmacogenetics
  • 12. Drug interactions
  • 13. Pharmacokinetic factors that modify drug action
  • 14. Paediatric and geriatric pharmacology
  • Section 4: Toxicology
  • 15. Poisoning and envenomation
  • 16. The management of acute clinical overdose
  • 17. Contemporary substances of abuse
  • 18. Medicine safety
  • Section 5: Autonomic pharmacology
  • 19. General aspects of neuropharmacology
  • 20. Adrenergic pharmacology
  • 21. Cholinergic pharmacology
  • Section 6: Neuropharmacology
  • 22. Antipsychotic agents
  • 23. Anxiolytics and hypnotics
  • 24. Antidepressants and mood stabilisers
  • 25. Neurodegenerative disorders
  • 26. Antiseizure agents and muscle relaxants
  • 27. Central nervous system stimulants
  • Section 7: Pain and anaesthesia
  • 28. Analgesics
  • 29. Migraine and other headaches
  • 30. General anaesthesia
  • 31. Local anaesthesia
  • Section 8: Inflammation, immunity and cancer
  • 32. Anti-inflammatory agents
  • 33. Antigout medicines
  • 34. Antihistamines
  • 35. Immunomodulating agents
  • 36. Cancer chemotherapy
  • Section 9: Cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology
  • 37. Dyslipidaemia
  • 38. Antihypertensive agents
  • 39. Antianginal agents
  • 40. Anticoagulant, antiplatelet, fibrinolytic and haemostatic agents
  • 41. Diuretics and other renal medicines
  • 42. Heart failure
  • 43. Antidysrhythmic agents
  • 44. Fluid and potassium imbalances
  • 45. Antianaemic agents
  • 46. Medicines used in obstructive and restrictive lung disease
  • 47. Coughs, colds and respiratory allergy medicines
  • Section 10: The modulation of gastrointestinal function
  • 48. Gastrointestinal tract drugs
  • 49. Antiemetic agents
  • 50. Enteral and parenteral nutrition
  • Section 11: Endocrine and metabolic pharmacology
  • 51. Pituitary conditions
  • 52. Thyroid conditions
  • 53. Diabetes mellitus and blood glucose management
  • 54. Adrenal cortex conditions
  • 55. Gonadal condition
  • 56. Bone disorders
  • 57. Obesity
  • Section 12: Antimicrobial pharmacology
  • 58. Introduction to antimicrobial therapy
  • 59. Antibacterial agents
  • 60. Antituberculotic and antileprotic agents
  • 61. Antiseptics and disinfectants
  • 62. Antiparasitic agents
  • 63. Antiviral agents
  • 64. Antifungal agents
  • Section 13: Special topics in pharmacology
  • 65. Skin conditions
  • 66. Ophthalmic medicines
  • 67. Herbal medicines

Need help?Get in touch