Deadly Drug Interactions : The People's Pharmacy Guide

Rating:
Summary: If you are taking medications you MUST read this book...
Review: I am Diabetic and take Insulin and was taking Rezulin, which were not even listed in book. I also take Immodium AD and Lomotil for bowel problems and these were also omitted. A drug prescribed for sleep - Visteril - was also not listed. Since I also take Prozac, Lasix and was taking Prinivil, information about these drugs was in the book and was helpful. The layout and presentation were better than most in conveying the results of the drug interactions.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed because book did not list many of my drugs.
Review: I am Diabetic and take Insulin and was taking Rezulin, which were not even listed in book. I also take Immodium AD and Lomotil for bowel problems and these were also omitted. A drug prescribed for sleep - Visteril - was also not listed. Since I also take Prozac, Lasix and was taking Prinivil, information about these drugs was in the book and was helpful. The layout and presentation were better than most in conveying the results of the drug interactions.

Rating:
Summary: If you are taking medications you MUST read this book...
Review: Perhaps one of the most enlightening books I have read this year is this one. Writen by the authors of the multi-million copy seller The People's Pharmacy, this book goes into great details about not only drug-drug reactions, but contains charts, case studies and information about what foods, vitamins and minerals can cause deadly interactions in people. Reading this book not only gave me a renewed horror for the power of the drugs our society has created (prescription AND non-prescription can be just as deadly) but also a renewed respect for these drugs. In this book you find that foods as simple as oatmeal can cause death if you are taking certain drugs, and that a page long list of foods could be fatal to anyone taking MAO inhibitors. Herbs are not mentioned except for licorice, but there is enough information given (in a chart as well) about what vitamins, minerals and other factors effect the medication, that if you had access to information on the content of your herbs (many books will tell you the nutrient content of herbs) then you could cross-reference quite efficiently. If you are taking any medication -prescription or non and are also consuming any food, vitamins, or herbs you MUST read this book. This book review is in the JAN 1999 issue of Herb'n Home newsletter. The editor of the newsletter , Kristie Burns, did an article on combining drugs with herbs and found this book an invaluable reference.