This book has been written to assist the student nurse and the qualified nurse, both in current practice or returning after a considerable interval, to learn about drugs and administer them safely, ultimately leading to improved nursing care. As therapeutics occupies a major place in the prevention and management of disease, there is a need for each nurse to have access to an information source both in the classroom and the clinical situation. Nurses are expected to satisfy themselves as to the route, dosage, action and adverse effects of any drug they administer, but how often has a nurse been heard to say: "What drug is that?". This need has resulted in a collection of facts about drugs as named and used most commonly in Australasia which will provide on-the-spot information. The drugs have been arranged in systems where practicable, depending on the main pharmacological action or use, which allows their study in conjunction with other nursing subjects. In some cases the prototype drug has been dealt with in detail followed by lighter treatment of drugs similar in origin or effect; whilst in other areas drugs with similar effects are treated as a group. In line with the trend toward ordering drugs by the generic name, drugs are given in the text by the generic name, the proprietary names being provided in the index. Although doses are highly individualized, they are provided as a guide, any paediatric doses being clearly distinguished from adult doses. Interactions which increase or decrease the effects of a drug have been included where significant and only the common and important adverse effects have been listed. Nursing points, collected from many sources, have been highlighted especially where care is needed to avoid toxicity. Additional points of importance are noted at the end of the section on the presented drug or group of drugs. For quick reference, a list of common abbreviations is on the outside back cover and a nomogram for calculating surface area on the inside back cover. Inside the front cover are a nomogram for calculating intravenous infusion rates and a series of formulae for calculating stock amounts of drugs, solutions, and children"s doses and intravenous infusion rates. This third edition presents revised information. New drugs have been added, and drugs which are rarely used have been omitted. Some drugs have been moved to a group to which they are more pharmacologically allied. A new section on "Drugs in Lactation" has been included.