An understanding of drug interactions has become essential to the practice of medicine. Since publication of the first edition of this Concise Guide in 2001, our increasing pharmacopoeia-coupled with prolonged human life spans-has made polypharmacy commonplace.

Like the first edition of this unique pocket reference, the Second Edition is written expressly for clinicians. With four new contributors, this bestseller includes expanded sections on both phase I and phase II metabolism, updates of existing chapters and tables, new graphics, and extensive Web site references. Brand-new chapters discuss P-glycoproteins, "minor" cytochrome P450 enzymes, pain management with narcotic and nonnarcotic analgesics, prescribing guidelines, and medicolegal issues.

This exceptionally practical guide is divided into four parts:

1. An easy-to-read, succinct review of pharmacology, written with clinicians in mind, explaining the importance of understanding our metabolic system and pharmacokinetics and P-glycoprotein drug interactions.

2. Thorough, carefully referenced reviews of the most clinically relevant phase I and phase II metabolic enzymes highlighted with newly expanded tables and study cases.

3. A section unique to this book on drug interactions by medical specialty, with drug tables arranged by how they are used in specialties such as gynecology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, psychiatry, and pain medicine.

4. Chapters on practical matters: prescribing guidelines, how to identify drug interaction patterns, strategies for reviewing the current literature, and medicolegal concerns.

Enhanced by detailed descriptions and clinically based explanations, and complemented by a unique pocket guide to the most common and potent inhibitors and inducers of drug metabolism, this updated concise "how-to" guide will prove indispensable for busy students, teachers, and practitioners in all medically specialties.

Kelly L. Cozza, M.D.,is a Psychiatrist at the Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland; and Fellow of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Dr. Cozza is the Med-Psych Drug-Drug Interactions Update co-editor ofPsychosomatics.

Scott C. Armstrong, M.D.,is Co-Medical Director at the Center for Geriatric Psychiatry, Tuality Forest Grove Hospital in Forest Grove, Oregon; Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland; and Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. He has published many articles on various psychiatric subjects and is a peer reviewer forMilitary MedicineandPsychosomatics, as well as the Med-Psych Drug-Drug Interactions Update Editor ofPsychosomatics.

Jessica R. Oesterheld, M.D.,is Medical Director of The Spurwink School in Portland, Maine, and an Instructor in Family Medicine at the University of New England School of Osteopathy in Biddeford, Maine.