Pharmacology for Health Professionals, seventh edition,

Edition 7

Editors: By Andrew Rowland, PhD, BSc (Hons), Shaunagh Darroch, BSc, MPharm,GradCertAcaPrac, Mary Bushell, BPharm (Hons), GCLTHE, PhD and Voula Tsoutsikos, PhD, Med (HighEd), BAppSc

Publication Date: 01 Nov 2026

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Pharmacology for Health Professionals provides a clinically grounded introduction to pharmacology, guiding students from foundational principles through to in-depth exploration of drug actions across major body systems and their application in treating common pathological conditions in the Australian and New Zealand context.

Designed for nursing, pharmacy and allied health students, this trusted text takes an integrated, practice-focused approach that links pharmacological mechanisms to real-world clinical care. Clear, concept-driven explanations build understanding of complex physiological processes while reinforcing safe, patient-centred and evidence-based use of medicines.

Aligned with contemporary Australasian practice, the text incorporates medicines policy, public health perspectives and interprofessional collaboration, preparing graduates for practice in dynamic healthcare environments. Particular attention is given to medication safety, polypharmacy and rational medicines use, especially in aged care and other complex patient populations.

A carefully scaffolded chapter structure supports learning progression and enhances engagement with challenging content.

New to this edition

Expanded coverage of aged care and special populations
Enhanced focus on medication safety and polypharmacy
Significant revision of foundational clinical, ethical and legal content
Major updates to cancer therapy, antimicrobial chemotherapy and resistance, obesity pharmacotherapy and vaccinations
Updated epidemiological data, clinical guidelines and emerging therapeutics
New and revised Critical Thinking Scenarios, with additional resources available via Evolve and ClinicalKey

Comprehensive, contemporary and accessible, Pharmacology for Health Professionals equips students with the knowledge and confidence to apply pharmacology safely and effectively.

Key Features

Critical Thinking Scenarios opening each chapter establish clinical context
Clinical Focus boxes address common medication issues
Key Points summaries consolidate essential concepts
Drug Monographs and Drugs at a Glance tables provide clear, rapid reference
End-of-chapter review questions integrate theory and practice
Comprehensive art and expanded humanoid models illustrate core pharmacological mechanisms
Structured ‘chunking’ of content supports comprehension and retention

Additional instructor resources

Solutions to end-of-chapter review questions
Additional Critical Thinking Scenarios + model answers
Additional Clinical Interest boxes
PowerPoint presentation

About the author

By Andrew Rowland, PhD, BSc (Hons), Senior Lecturer, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Shaunagh Darroch, BSc, MPharm,GradCertAcaPrac, Pharmacologist, Melbourne, Victoria,Australia; Mary Bushell, BPharm (Hons), GCLTHE, PhD and Voula Tsoutsikos, PhD, Med (HighEd), BAppSc, Professor and Teaching Program Director (Clinical), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia

UNIT 1
1 Drugs and medicines
2 Clinical, ethical and legal foundations of pharmacotherapy

UNIT 2
3 Molecular drug targets and pharmacodynamics
4 Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
5 Pharmacokinetics and dosing regimens
6 Precision medicine
7 Adverse drug reactions and drug interactions

UNIT 3
8 Drugs affecting cholinergic transmission
9 Drugs affecting noradrenergic transmission

UNIT 4
10 Drugs affecting cardiac function
11 Drugs affecting vascular smooth muscle
12 Lipid-lowering drugs
13 Drugs affecting thrombosis and haemostasis
14 Drugs affecting the haemopoietic system

UNIT 5
15 Drugs used in respiratory disorders

UNIT 6
16 Drugs affecting the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract

UNIT 7
17 Drugs affecting the kidney and bladder

UNIT 8
18 Central nervous system overview and anaesthetics
19 Analgesics
20 Antianxiety, sedative and hypnotic drugs
21 Antiepileptic drugs
22 Psychotropic agents
23 Central nervous system stimulants
24 Drugs for neurodegenerative disorders and headache
25 Drug dependence and social pharmacology

UNIT 9
26 The neuroendocrine system and pituitary gland
27 The thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands and bone disorders
28 The endocrine pancreas and diabetes mellitus
29 The adrenal cortex and corticosteroids

UNIT 10
30 Drugs affecting the female reproductive system
31 Drugs affecting the male reproductive system

UNIT 11
32 Principles of cancer therapy
33 Antineoplastic drugs

UNIT 12
34 Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drugs

UNIT 13
35 Overview of antimicrobial chemotherapy and antibiotic resistance
36 Antibacterial drugs
37 Antifungal and antiviral drugs
38 Antiprotozoal, antimycobacterial and anthelmintic drugs

UNIT 14
39 Drugs affecting the skin
40 Drugs affecting the eye and ear
41 Drugs in aged care
42 Pharmacotherapy of obesity
43 Vaccinations
44 Complementary medicines

Pharmacology for Health Professionals, seventh edition,

Editors: By Andrew Rowland, PhD, BSc (Hons), Shaunagh Darroch, BSc, MPharm,GradCertAcaPrac, Mary Bushell, BPharm (Hons), GCLTHE, PhD and Voula Tsoutsikos, PhD, Med (HighEd), BAppSc

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About the author

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