<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Remember this information is provided by the manufacturers
Review: Although this information is very useful, it is manufacturers' self-reported data. It doe not necessarily post studies that are actually done on target populations - children for Ritalin for example. So you cannot rely upon the information as if it were done by objective third parties. Nonetheless it is very useful to have. It is a shame that we don't have much objective information on drugs, particularly after so many recalls and recent problems with shaded data.
Rating: 
Summary: Everybody Should Own One
Review: Everybody shold own a copy of this reference book. I have had doctors write out a perscription for me that would be lethal or at best land me into the hospital because they are not up on pharmacology.They practice medical care whch often is one dimensional for a condition without taking into the other medications the patients are taking and are in too much of a hurry to monitor medications. I have had pharmacists fill perscriptions ,thinking their computers would red flag medications that should not be mixed, but the pharmacist cannot keep up with all of the medications, and their computers are not programmed to "red flag". I have had to ask for print outs and the doctors resent being called on if meds they ordered were dangerous with other medical conditions. So patients need to cross-reference the medications themselves.This book needs to be kept up to date and at a place of easy accessibility at home for every patient.Mistakes are made too easily and no one wants to take responsibility for the mistakes of pharmacists or physicians. Patients need to become knowledgeabe of every dangerous interaction with conditions they have, or other medications they are taking. The book is very large and bulky, but it has a tremendous amount of information contained in it. There is a section of generic name, as well as brand names. New medications come out every year and a patient needs to know more than the small print out the pharmacy supplies. It is easy for a doctor to use a laptop computer,list medical conditions and information, including medications a patient is on and cross reference. I have seen an excellent doctor do this to keep a patient well. Unfortunately, not many doctors either can be bothered or know how to do this, so patients have needed to monitor their medications and become knowledgeable or they take high risks leaving their trust in a person who has an MD after their name. They take for granted the title has endowments of high credibility. The PDR is essential for a patient to keep themselves out of harms way. Just as in any field some doctors are very good and some more interested in their day off at the golf course.As time goes on, patients have needed to seriosly question the quality of their doctor and the medications that he is perscribing. The patient needs a reference book to read all of the information of the medications, that their doctor has not paid attention to for good medicine. I prefer a doctor that earned a good reputation, not one that is "practicing" on me with medications he is not familar with that a pharmacudical reprsentative gave him samples of, so he orders whatever a salesman told him to order. Get this PDR and think things through before blindly trusting a doctor that has not even considered all of the interactions that could possibly prove fatal. Doctors who are "too busy" to bother are dangerous. Mrs Symmington
Rating:
Summary: PDR '98 - This book could save your life!
Review: I heard it on the news, and I read it in a weekly news magazine, so I guess it's true. A study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that adverse reactions to prescription drugs may rank between the 4th and 6th leading cause of death in the U. S., for a total of over 100,000 deaths a year. Perhaps familiarity with the annual Physicians' Desk Reference, or PDR, can help lower this alarming death toll. If you're a medical practicioner, you are well aware that the PDR has been universally recognized for over fifty years as the premier authority on prescription medicines and their effects, and you probably have the latest edition right at your fingertips. The publisher guarantees PDR's information to be comprehensive, authoritative (FDA approved information), up-to-date, and easy to use. However, non-medical professionals take heed - as with any comprehensive reference tool, ease of use comes with learning how the information is arranged, and then spending time actually using the various sections. Be prepared to familiarize yourself with the Manufacturers' Index, the Brand and Generic Name Index, the Product Category Index, the Product Identification Guide, and the Product Information section. This last is the main section of the PDR and contains entries for over 2,200 pharmaceuticals. Oh, yes, these are alphabetical by manufacturer. I must admit my favorite section is the Product Id Guide, again by manufacturer, with its full-color, actual- size photos of tablets and capsules, plus pictures of other dosage forms and packages. The information is all here. You know that drugs are powerful substances, that your response to any one drug may be unpredictable, and that knowledge is power. If lack of shelf space, continued currency, and PDR's $74.95 price tag is holding you back, I sympathize. Remember there is an excellent chance that your local public library has the latest PDR in its medical reference section, plus a trained reference librarian to help you find just the pages you need!
Rating: 
Summary: A Wealth Of Information
Review: I just started my cardiology practice and I'm seeing patients who are on drugs that I don't know. I open my PDR several times a day. PDR, like my colleagues say, is a bible and you can't practice medicine without it. I recommend to my patients and nonmedical friends to keep a copy in their homes for information on prescription drugs.
Rating:
Summary: Everybody Should Own One
Review: The PDR, published annually and continually updated, is *the* desk reference for any doctor who prescribes prescription medications. It contains detailed information on dosage, contraindictions, med interactions, all the things that the manufacturer's reps aren't likely to mention when selling your doctor on a featured drug.
Individuals who take several meds for comorbid chronic conditions will welcome information besides the little orange "May cause drowsiness" stickers on the med bottles, and with the available update service will keep and use the PDR for years to come.
Am I the only person who removes those stickers and places them on boring things at work?
Yours in healing...
Rating:
Summary: Psychopharm's "Bible"
Review: The PDR, published annually and continually updated, is *the* desk reference for any doctor who prescribes prescription medications. It contains detailed information on dosage, contraindictions, med interactions, all the things that the manufacturer's reps aren't likely to mention when selling your doctor on a featured drug.
Individuals who take several meds for comorbid chronic conditions will welcome information besides the little orange "May cause drowsiness" stickers on the med bottles, and with the available update service will keep and use the PDR for years to come.
Am I the only person who removes those stickers and places them on boring things at work?
Yours in healing...
Rating:
Summary: Helps you, not the drug companies, to pick the best medicine
Review: This book is a "must have" for anyone who wants to know what is going into their body. If you want to make an informed decision about what medicines you will or won't take, it is definitely worth the price as an addition to your home resource library.
Rating:
Summary: Packed with information
Review: This book is a invaluable reference. Buy it, and use it.
Rating:
Summary: physician's desk reference
Review: this book isabsolutely necessary to every physicia
Rating:
Summary: FIVE STARS WITH RESERVATIONS....
Review: This is without a doubt the last word in drug information. The danger , for me anyway, is that sometimes I have been known to "imagine" side effects if I know they are possible. I think that the PDR is invaluable at times and I will seek to consult it but usually only AFTER I suspect I may be having a problem....that way I am sure I am not imagining side effects because I know they are possible. The book is expensive to buy and is updated yearly so a volume is outdated almost at publication...that is why I question the people who put so much stock in it. There are so many good alternatives. For example, the internet has many many many drug information sites...including a PDR site. There is a site for people with palm computers called "epocrates" that is free and infinately updateable...and has wonderful features! It is also much more portable than the PDR book. The pharmacies give out drug information and most will give you a package insert if you ask...and if you push your MD you may even be able to get the office to photocopy the pdr page for you. All of these things are probably better because you will be assured of getting the most up-to-date information...
<< 1 >>
|
