APhA drug names. Edited by Christine L. Bailey, Janet D. Shoff, and Margaret F. Rose. American Pharmaceutical Association, 2215 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20037, 1976. 192 pp. 14 × 21.5 cm. Price $5.00 (members, $3.50)

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 145 KB
• Volume: 65
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-3549
• DOI: 10.1002/jps.2600650946

✦ Synopsis

This text is, as the editor states, ". . . not an annual review of topics in toxicology, but rather an annual publication of selected topics of current concern or interest in the broad field of toxicology." Many chapters, e.g., Toxicity Problems Related to Oral Ingestion of Prolonged Dosage Forms, Postmortem Drug Level Changes, Research in the Treatment of Poisoning, Testing to Predict Ocular Hazards of Household Chemicals, and The Current Status of Saccharin, fall within the above objective, and clinically useful data were found in all.

Narcotic Drug Dependence is another interesting chapter and documents various problems associated with narcotic use such as the overdose syndrome; gastrointestinal, liver, cardiac, and renal disorders; and immunological alterations. Treatment modalities are also discussed. One criticism is that in Table 2, which cites the incidence of problems in,pregnant drug users (e.g., breech and premature deliveries and toxemia), information is presented for only three groups: heroin addicted, methadone withdrawal, and methadone maintenance. The reader would be able to evaluate the real significance of these narcotic-induced problems if an additional column listing the usual occurrence of these problems in pregnancy was included.

In Drug and Chemical Blood Levels, one table lists many commonly used drugs (e.g., acetaminophen, chlordiazepoxide, dextropropoxyphene, and methaqualone) and their therapeutic (or normal), toxic, and lethal blood levels. While only one or two of the levels are cited for some compounds, the therapeutic range is documented for most, and this in itself is a valuable offering.

Chapters that could have been deleted are This is Veterinary Toxicology (provides little significant information) and The Marihuana Dilemma: Implications of Recent Research Into the Pharmacokinetics, Psychomotor Effects, and Cardiovascular Actions of THC (more appropriate for a pharmacology text).

Overall, the Toxicology Annual 1974 provides very worthy material in several specific areas of toxicology. Health professionals in related disciplines would also find this book informative.