Customer Reviews

Drugs for Pregnant and Lactating Women: Expert Consult - Online and Print, 2e

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There are a plethora of places to find information relating to medications and pregnancy/lactation...and that is part of the problem. There are resources that can give nothing more than a `category' (A, B, C, D or X) without explanation as to WHY they are that category vs. resources giving information overload with a multitude of scientific studies and research that (though of interest) just serve to bog you down when trying to do some actual work.

What a busy person REALLY needs is a logically arranged reference, that one can use to look up either with the generic or brand names, is visually easy to read, has specific/succinct and scientifically accurate information in appropriate depth. This reference excels at these tasks.

The medications are listed alphabetically with brand names (including international names!), followed by class, indication for use, mechanism of action, dosing parameters (which includes a section on contraindications and cautions). Next comes a listing of maternal considerations including side effects followed by a listing fetal considerations.

The fetal portion includes information known (of course the vast majority have the disclaimer `there are no adequate reports or well-controlled studies in human fetuses'). Also included is whether the medication does/does not/is not known to cross the placenta--human or otherwise. Animal studies are referenced . Explanations are given regarding known effects--for example hydrocortisone which is listed as category C, but notations along the line of 'inactivated in the placenta,/no increase in malformations' make rational decision making an easier process. Basically, it tells you WHY the medication is categorized as such (like ibuprofen--closing a ductus arteriosis is not a concern at 16 weeks so if your 16 weeker patient sprains her ankle, give her the Motrin).

Breast feeding safety information is also provided including whether or not the medication is known to be excreted in the milk. Drug interactions are listed, and finally references are given as well in case more in depth information needs to be sought out.

The summary section gives pregnancy category, lactation category and perhaps a few comments.

The book also has discussions of known teratogens, pregnancy drug registries, endocarditis guidleines, and FDA category definitions. To echo comments made by the authors in the forward, this reference has taken a complicated and important subject and made it straightforward and simple for those who take care of patients.

A Really Nice Benefit is that there is also a code that allows you to register with Elsevier (like they don't have you in their database anyway...) and you can access the text on line. I had tried the Kindle sample --which was lacking in that the pages were blanked out by the way. This is a do-able text on the Kindle (assuming those pages don't remain blanked out) but considering that buying the paper book gives you electronic access too this is one time I'd rather have the paper version. Of course you could buy the Kindle version and use a Kindle app which would cost a bit less...it's all a matter of personal preference of course.

To sum up--Most highly recommended!

JTG