The aim of Stockley’s Drug Interactions is to inform busy doctors, pharmacists, surgeons, nurses and other healthcare professionals, of the facts about drug interactions, without their having to do the time-consuming literature searches and full assessment of the papers for themselves.
To précis the mass of literature
into a concise and easy-to-read form, the text has been organized into a series
of individual monographs, all with a common format. If you need some insight
into the general philosophy underlying the way all this information is handled
in this publication, you should have a look at the section, ‘Before using this
book.
There have been several changes
for the 8th edition. All of the existing monographs have, as with each edition,
been reviewed, revalidated and updated, and many new ones have been added, making
a total in excess of 3100 monographs. Many new monographs on herbal
interactions have been added, although good quality human studies remain
sparse. A new chapter has been added to cover the growing number of
interactions about anorectics, and the chapter on sympathomimetics has been
removed, with the information redistributed according to the therapeutic use of
the drugs in question, to give a better indication of precisely which drugs
from this disparate group are likely to interact. We have continued to add
information provided by regulatory bodies outside of the UK, which further
enhances the international flavour of the publication.
This edition has also seen the
growth in our editorial team, with two practicing clinical pharmacists
recruited to help us ensure we maintain the practical nature of the information
given. This has also allowed us to develop our product range, with the
publication of the first Stockley’s Drug Interactions Pocket Companion, which
we have developed for delivery on PDA.
As always, the Editorial team
have had assistance from many other peoplein developing this publication, and
the Editor gratefully acknowledges the assistance and guidance that they have
provided. The Martindale team continue to be a great source of advice and
support, and particular thanks is due to the editor, Sean Sweetman. Thanks are
also due to John Wilson and Tamsin Cousins, who handle the various aspects of
producing our publications in print. We are also grateful for the support of
both Paul Weller and Charles Fry. Ivan Stockley remains an important part of
the publication, taking a keen interest in the development of new products, and
as ever, we find his advice invaluable.
