The Top 100 Drugs

Now in its second edition, this highly successful guide to safe prescribing of the most common classes of drugs is your starting point for safe and effective practice.

The first edition was a direct response to requests from students for a compendium of the 100 most important drugs in the NHS. Research led by Professor Emma Baker identified the 'top 100 drugs' by their importance and prescribing frequency.

• The top 100 drugs and the five most important intravenous fluids are presented using a clear, consistent layout across double-page spreads.
• Drugs are arranged alphabetically and also listed by organ system and clinical indication, providing multiple pathways into the information.
• Clinical pharmacology is discussed under the headings: common indications; mechanisms of action; important adverse effects; warnings; and important interactions.
• Practical prescribing is discussed under the headings: prescription; administration; communication; monitoring; and cost.
• A clinical tip is presented for every drug.
• Single-best-answer questions are provided for self-assessment and to show how information from several drugs may be integrated.

In research, she gained her PhD from Manchester University in 1996. She subsequently moved to St George's and developed a research programme in epithelial transport and respiratory infection, with external funding from bodies including the Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council. Her research has developed from early work in molecular biology to development and implementation of investigator-led clinical trials.

In teaching, she was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2003 and has received a St George's undergraduate teaching prize in eight different years. She has co-authored a respiratory text book (Case-based respiratory medicine) and is currently leading her clinical pharmacology trainees in writing two new prescribing textbooks for publication in 2014.

In clinical practice, she has a specialist interest in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and runs an outpatient service for patients with airways disease. She shares the inpatient care of respiratory patients with four colleagues and is on the on call rota for acute medical intaking.