Worst Pills, Best Pills: A Consumer's Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness

by Sidney M. Wolfe

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743492560
• ISBN13: 9780743492560
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 960 Pages
• Weight: 3.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 8.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Worst Pills, Best Pills:A Consumer's Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness

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

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

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.

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

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.