Catatan

The behavior and characteristics of therapeutic drugs vary enormously. For example, doses
differ more than a thousandfold. Some drugs must be taken three times a day, others
once daily, and some every month. The response to some therapies occurs immediately,
whereas for others it may take days or even weeks for the response to be apparent. Some
drugs must be taken with food; others must be taken on an empty stomach. Concurrent
medications interact with some drugs but not with others. The study of pharmacokinetics
(the dose–concentration relationship) and pharmacodynamics (the concentration–response
relationship), which have been referred to as the pillars of clinical pharmacology, unlocks
the mystery of this behavior and brings clarity to diverse patterns of drug action. The goal
of this book is to provide straightforward, uncomplicated, but comprehensive coverage of
the essentials of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. I hope the book will enable a
large and diverse group of students to develop an interest in this subject and gain a better
understanding of the properties and behaviors of drugs.