The authors wish to acknowledge all those who aided in the preparation of this book. Most of all we wish to express our appreciation to the students who provide the inspiration for this work. It is for these individuals and all who strive for excellence in patient care that this book is published. The Prentice Hall Health Professional's Drug Guide 2001 lists all drugs alphabetically according to generic names. Each drug is, however, indexed by both its generic and trade names.
Trade names followed by a maple leaf indicate that the drug is available only in Canada.
If a drug is not listed in the alphabetical section, it may be a combination drug, which by definition is made up of more than one generic component. These combination drugs are found by their trade names in the index and in a separate Appendix E, Prescription Combination Drugs, which lists the generic components and the amount of each generic drug. The information needed for safe and effective drug administration is given for each drug in the alphabetical listing. The reader should review all the information provided. This glossary of key terms, clinical conditions, and associated signs and symptoms provides valuable information regarding common assessment findings related to therapeutic effectiveness or ineffectiveness of specific drugs.