This volume investigates the fundamental question of how prescription and over-the-counter medications function within the human body to treat common illnesses. Authors Roderick Cawson and Roy Spector, drawing upon their medical expertise, provide a structured framework that demystifies pharmaceutical science for the lay reader while examining the broader context of drug testing and industry practices.

Experts and readers frequently cite this work as a reliable reference for understanding the complexities of modern pharmacology in accessible language. The text is noted for its systematic organization, which allows users to navigate a vast amount of technical data with relative ease.