Worst Pills, Best Pills: A Consumer's Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
"More than 100,000 people a year die in American hospitals from adverse reactions to medication, making drug reactions one of the leading causes of death in this country, researchers are reporting today...."
-- Journal of the American Medical Association study, as quoted in The New York Times
It is no longer a secret that adverse drug reactions can be dangerous or even fatal, or that doctors often prescribe two relatively safe drugs -- which may cause a life-threatening interaction if taken together. THIS IS THE BOOK THAT TELLS YOU WHAT OTHER PILL BOOKS WON'T ABOUT YOUR MEDICATION!
Top-selling drugs that are among the 160 Do Not Use Drugs discussed inside:
Ultram Darvoset-N Lopid Desogen & OrthoCept Elavil Ativan Restoril Flexeril Valium Bentyl Entex LA Glucophage Macrobid Patients fill more than 80 million prescriptions a year for these drugs!
Consumer advocate Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, has thoroughly revised and updated this accessible, indispensable bestseller that alerts you to the potential risks of hundreds of medications available today. Worst Pills, Best Pills gives you the information you need to become actively involved in caring for yourself -- by asking your doctor smart questions about the drugs prescribed for you. Arranged by disease/condition, it offers chapters on adverse drug reactions, alphabetical indexes listing pills by their brand and generic names, new information about commonly used drugs, guidelines for helping you to say "no" if your doctor prescribes a drug you should not take, and safer alternative choices. Worst Pills, Best Pills also includes startling information about certain drugs that can actually cause depression, hallucinations or psychoses, sexual dysfunction, dementia, auto accidents, insomnia, parkinsonism, and more.
Caution: Call your doctor before stopping the use of any drug.
-- Journal of the American Medical Association study, as quoted in The New York Times
It is no longer a secret that adverse drug reactions can be dangerous or even fatal, or that doctors often prescribe two relatively safe drugs -- which may cause a life-threatening interaction if taken together. THIS IS THE BOOK THAT TELLS YOU WHAT OTHER PILL BOOKS WON'T ABOUT YOUR MEDICATION!
Top-selling drugs that are among the 160 Do Not Use Drugs discussed inside:
Ultram Darvoset-N Lopid Desogen & OrthoCept Elavil Ativan Restoril Flexeril Valium Bentyl Entex LA Glucophage Macrobid Patients fill more than 80 million prescriptions a year for these drugs!
Consumer advocate Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, has thoroughly revised and updated this accessible, indispensable bestseller that alerts you to the potential risks of hundreds of medications available today. Worst Pills, Best Pills gives you the information you need to become actively involved in caring for yourself -- by asking your doctor smart questions about the drugs prescribed for you. Arranged by disease/condition, it offers chapters on adverse drug reactions, alphabetical indexes listing pills by their brand and generic names, new information about commonly used drugs, guidelines for helping you to say "no" if your doctor prescribes a drug you should not take, and safer alternative choices. Worst Pills, Best Pills also includes startling information about certain drugs that can actually cause depression, hallucinations or psychoses, sexual dysfunction, dementia, auto accidents, insomnia, parkinsonism, and more.
Caution: Call your doctor before stopping the use of any drug.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0743492560
ISBN13:9780743492560
Release Date:January 2005
Publisher:Gallery Books
Length:960 Pages
Weight:3.85 lbs.
Dimensions:1.9" x 8.0" x 9.2"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Worst Pills, Best Pills:A Consumer's Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
A very useful guide to avoiding adverse drug interaction, especially for one who is taking multiple medications. Even my doctor did not warn of the danger of taking Ultracet and Celebrex together.
The consummate Patient's Drug Reference
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I have consulted the several editions of this book published since the 80's. The reviews are objective and easy to read. The informed patient should know what side-effects to watch for, what to discuss with the doctor, and when to just simply say NO to a prescription drug and ask for something else. We wouldn't think of taking a drug without researching it. Just what do you expect the pharmaceutical pamphlets to say? And the FDA relies on reports from the pharmaceuticals. It is the most comprehensive, user-friendly drug book I've ever read---and I have bought and read a few.
Do Not Even Think Of Taking An Rx Without Having This Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
This book is about 10 years old so if you are taking one of the newer drugs you will have to find additional resources. Except for the above mentioned newer drugs this book is an absolute must. There are so many problems with the drugs that people take that it is almost unbelieveable. The side affects are all carefully spelled out. Every drug is a balancing act. You have to balance the hoped-for benefit of the drug versus any and all adverse side affects. Many times the side affects are not worth the risk especially if gains can be made by nutrition and exercise, in some other holistic way or by taking an alternative safer drug.
Very Informative, Every doctor should have one.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
My Mother suffered several strokes, so was on all types of medicines. In many instances, we helped to keep her from further complications by asking the Doctors if this pill or that would interact and create problems. We never let on that we had been advised through Worst Pills, Best Pills that it could create problems. The Doctors then took the time to look up the crossing of drugs and concurred and prescribed something less invasive. They kept their "in charge" feeling and we were comfortable knowing we weren't allowing a bigger problem to take place through drug interaction. As the last update was 1993, do you anticipate a newer edition to keep pace with the new drugs on the market?
As a primary caregiver this book is a valuable resource
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
I am the primary caregiver of my 86 year old mother-in-law. She was dangerously over-medicated. Since using this book as a ready reference she has been taken off some eight medications that she should have never been taking. I am, with the help of this book trying to get her off two more medications that are causing her serious side effects. This book is a very valuable resource and should be on every bookshelf at home and at the doctors office.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
