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Rating: 
Summary: Something big is missing ...
Review: I bought this book because I liked the stile it is written - very concise and objective and all was achieved by using plain language. The bad thig is that because of some unknown reason some of the major drugs are unexplicably left out (e.g. flecianide/tombacor, one of the major drugs used for treatment of heart rhytam disorders is nowhere to be found); also, some others are 'hidden' behind their original name so no generic/comercial names can be found in the book's reference (how I should know what is the other name for Sotalol).
These are two serious omisions related to this book and I personaly don't think this book should be even on the market - it's incomplete and, as you may not be able to find your drug, actualy useless!
They used to have editors to check books before they hit the bookstores - what happened here?
So - avoid at all costs!
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Drug Info Around!
Review: If you take any prescription drugs this is the book for you! I've seen many drug info books and none can compare with the info in this book. The best thing in the book is info on interactions between what drugs you are taking and other drugs, herbal supplements or OTC medicines.
Rating:
Summary: Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs for 2003 by Rybacki
Review: This is an excellent book for explaining the intricacies of
individual prescription drugs i.e. costs, benefits, risks,
indications and contraindicationsBefore any drug is taken, the patient should have qualitative
information on its effectiveness and side-effects so that
medical attention can be sought early enough for a physician
to intervene. This book provides quality information on
individual drugs so that consumers have a single source
to evaluate effectiveness. A pharmacist should provide this
information; however, this text lists the data in an
easily readable form without too much medical jargon. It would be helpful to have a comparison with the alternative
medicinal protocols utilizing natural substances. There is a
difference between organically recognizable substances that are
natural derivatives versus the inorganic substances of
prescription drugs. Inorganic substances are not necessarily
recognizable by the body and may not break down as easily into substances that the body can deal with as easily as
the organically based treatments. Nonetheless, this work
is still helpful for consumers taking the pharmaceutical
approaches. This work would be most effective if the patient utilized it
in conjunction with his/her physician medical encounter.
Some medicinal protocols can be accomplished via diet,
exercise and the use of nutrition to accomplish medicinal
goals. All of these approaches should be discussed with your
physician before embarking on a long-term decision to select
a course of action.
Rating:
Summary: Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs for 2003 by Rybacki
Review: This is an excellent book for explaining the intricacies of
individual prescription drugs i.e. costs, benefits, risks,
indications and contraindications Before any drug is taken, the patient should have qualitative
information on its effectiveness and side-effects so that
medical attention can be sought early enough for a physician
to intervene. This book provides quality information on
individual drugs so that consumers have a single source
to evaluate effectiveness. A pharmacist should provide this
information; however, this text lists the data in an
easily readable form without too much medical jargon. It would be helpful to have a comparison with the alternative
medicinal protocols utilizing natural substances. There is a
difference between organically recognizable substances that are
natural derivatives versus the inorganic substances of
prescription drugs. Inorganic substances are not necessarily
recognizable by the body and may not break down as easily into substances that the body can deal with as easily as
the organically based treatments. Nonetheless, this work
is still helpful for consumers taking the pharmaceutical
approaches. This work would be most effective if the patient utilized it
in conjunction with his/her physician medical encounter.
Some medicinal protocols can be accomplished via diet,
exercise and the use of nutrition to accomplish medicinal
goals. All of these approaches should be discussed with your
physician before embarking on a long-term decision to select
a course of action.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this if you want to manage your health care!
Review: This is one of the most popular books for the layman about prescription drugs. (That other book is "The Pill Book") The main reason this one is popular is because it's good. It's extremely thorough about everything it discusses. Anyone who wants to be active in managing their health care, not just a passive recipient of doctors' orders, should own such a book. Advantages:
Extensive descriptions of each drug (longer descriptions than that other book)
Nice table of "Benefits versus Risks" for each, lays out what to expect;
Includes virtually all brands, including Canadian brands, for each generic name. (That other book doesn't.)
Typical treatment goals and measurements for each drug
Cites studies that have tested this drug, and also information about studies still ongoing, and possible new uses for existing drugs that are currently being tested.
Aviation restrictions listed, if any
Extensive appendices at the end list entire classes of drugs together, a glossary of drug-related terms, complete list of sources and studies reported. Disadvantages: This is a big, fat, heavy paperback - weighs as much as a hardcover. (That other book is smaller, lighter weight.)
Some classes of drugs inexplicably left out, such as skeletal muscle relaxants, e.g. Flexeril and Soma. (They are in that other book.)
The section of pictures of pills is pretty useless (I feel the same about the pictures in that other book, too.) Since it doesn't have them all, in fact, doesn't have pictures of more drugs than it does have pictures of, why bother? In Summary: This book costs less than the typical copay on your insurance for a single doctor visit, and will be more than worth it to you in terms of information.
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