'The very last thing a drug regulator wishes to be able to say is, like Lord Byron (1788-1824), on the publication of his poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, 'I awoke one morning and found myself famous.'

The twelfth edition of this long-established textbook of clinical pharmacology (first published in 1960) continues its fine tradition of balancing science and practice for improved evidence-based drug therapy and good prescribing in therapeutic settings increasingly complicated by intercurrent disease and polypharmacy.

• Coverage of all major therapeutic topics by body system.
• Introductory sections give brief chapter synopses.
• Case studies where relevant.
• Covers the needs of the developing world with a focus on practical prescribing and health technology assessment.
• Definition, tips, brief explanation boxes throughout.
• Interesting histories, etymologies and provenances of terms throughout.
• Entertaining footnotes throughout.
• Fully updated throughout.
• New co-editor: Fraz Mir, Addenbrooke's Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge.
• Now with free e-book on StudentConsult.