Worst Pills, Best Pills: A Consumer's Guide to Preventing Drug-Induced Death (Paperback)

~ Sid M. Wolfe (Author) "The numbers are staggering: in 1997, an estimated 2.35 billion prescriptions were filled in retail drugstores in the United States..." (more)
Key Phrases: new drug interactions, doctor about any other drugs, other blood pressure drugs, The Medical Letter, Adverse Effects Call, Periodic Tests Ask (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Adverse drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of death for Americans, killing 100,000 people each year. How do these adverse reactions happen? Sometimes the prescribed dose is too high, or the drug is given to people who don't need it, or different drugs that are fine separately become dangerous in combination. Worst Pills, Best Pills: A Consumer's Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness may be your worst nightmare or best friend. This hefty 772-page resource (weighing more than three pounds) is filled with the potential risks of hundreds of medications, pairs of drugs that can cause life-threatening reactions when taken together, and 160 pills you shouldn't take at all, with safer alternatives. The organization of this book can be confusing at first--it's difficult to browse, but if you're checking out your medications, go first to the index of drugs at the beginning, which will direct you to the section where your drug is discussed. After that, the book is organized by ailment. Each drug that is discussed includes brand name(s), generic name, use, possible adverse effects, precautions, warnings (stronger than precautions), when not to use this drug, what to tell your doctor that might affect your reaction, how to take it safely, interactions with other drugs, and adverse reactions that warrant calling your doctor. Considering all the information in here that might save your life, this book is a bargain. --Joan Price

From Library Journal

Updating a million-copy best seller.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; Revised edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067101918X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671019181
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #793,152 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worst Pills Best Pills, May 11, 2000

By	C. Johnson "C. Johnson" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has been very valuable to me as a gerontologist working with elderly and dementia patients.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dont be fooled by the reviews, February 21, 2005

By	Walking With The Night (Hill Country, Texas) - See all my reviews

This book is information you need to know. You are not going to get it from your doctor. You are not going to get it from the FDA either. Your doctor is under pressure from the pharmaceutical reps to push their respective drugs.The FDA is completely co-opted by the fact that they recieve millions of dollars each year from the pharmaceutical industry-who bombards you daily with TV ads telling you to ask your doctor for their products without really telling you what their product is. You need REAL information!!!!!!!
The bottom line folks is that the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry) and the pharmaceutical industry itself are dancing a dangerous dance, and we are the floor they are dancing on.As far as the "do not take" drug list in the book goes, all of those drugs listed have safer alternatives, most being older tried and true drugs that have been pushed aside for the new crop of "superdrugs".On a side note: I cant help but notice that on this last thursday it was reported that Bush is preparing to sign legislation limiting or capping class action lawsuits and on this last Friday it was reorted that the FDA is encouraging the readmittance of drugs live Vioxx back into the marketplace. Curious

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT , SUPERIOR , OUTSTANDING, UNDERSTANDABLE, July 18, 1999

By A Customer

I have used this book for many years and I have found it to be the best source of information to evaluate my medicines and their effect on me .