Pills That Work, Pills That Don't: A Family Guide to Personal Pharmacology (Paperback)

by Gideon Bosker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Just because a drug has been approved by America's Food and Drug Administration doesn't mean it's the best or most appropriate drug for any given patient. And just because a doctor has prescribed a normally effective drug doesn't mean a patient is going to use it according to the directions. Drug mistakes--whether by the physician or patient--lead to 140,000 deaths each year, according to Gideon Bosker, and cost consumers and insurance companies billions. Pills That Work, Pills That Don't is tough on both sides of the equation (it exposes, for example, the myth that generic drugs are as good as brand-name equivalents still under patent), and offers an objective system for ranking drugs. This system allows you to decide for yourself whether your doctor is giving you the best drugs for your condition, or merely the cheapest ones. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

 ¸  Find out which generic drugs are inefficient and out-of-date
 ¸  Discover drugs you may not be taking that can prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke--and prolong your life
 ¸  Request a list of the approved medications your health plan prescribes
 ¸  Learn how to get your HMO to pay for the better, brand name pills
 ¸  Exchange costly medications for less expensive prescriptions
 ¸  Build a safer, healthier drug regimen that eliminates toxic side effects
 ¸  Follow Dr. Bosker's proven 12-Week Action Plan to help you and your doctor produce a sensible drug regimen that will do more with less

Your access to accurate, detailed medical information is increasingly denied by the health care establishment, even while powerful new superdrugs make headlines and physicians write out billions of prescriptions each year. Now, Dr. Gideon Bosker gives you the tools you need to take charge of your health care regimen by evaluating your prescriptions and learning when (and how) to question the recommendations of your doctor or insurance company.

With this indispensable resource, Dr. Bosker shows you how:
 ¸  One dose of Lipitor can reduce your cholesterol--why take multiple doses of less effective medications?
 ¸  Septra is an inexpensive medication for sinus infection--
so why spend a fortune on Ceftin?
 ¸  Zoloft is optimal for treating anxiety associated with panic disorder--
why risk dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms with Xanax?
 ¸  And much, much more!


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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st Fawcet edition (October 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449912736
• ISBN-13: 978-0449912737
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,467,793 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lot easier to read than the Physicians Desk Reference, August 17, 2001

By	"commutaria" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

The PDR tells you all the problems with side effects with drugs--I use it all the time to look up drugs as a medical secretary. However, this book is a lot easier to read for a layperson.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great eye opener on prescription drugs., July 8, 2001

By	Sentekin Can (St.Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The copy I have read was published in 1997 by Harmony books and probably pretty much similar to this 1998 edition. Dr. Bosker displays a great courage in exposing some of the money savings the managed care organizations. Dr. Bosker explains that generics are possibly not as effective as originals but they are pushed anyway to save money. How many of us were repeatedly assured that they use same chemicals and they are same. You will love MedRANK Life checklists and find out if your medications are the optimal ones subscribed for the ailment. I enjoyed the book and consider it a gift of service to all of us by Dr. Gideon Bosker.

5.0 out of 5 stars A vital guide to prescription drugs, August 15, 2001

By	Kate McMurry (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The warning, "Consumer beware!" is crucial in the matter of prescription drugs, and Dr. Bosker's book can greatly assist you in educating yourself about them. He states which medications work, which ones don't, which are unacceptably unsafe, and which ones are dangerous in combination with each other in these areas: childhood disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, psychiatric problems, asthma, allergies, skin conditions, stroke, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, infections, cancer, HIV, osteoporosis, arthritis, pain relief, prostate problems, menopause, contraception, and life extension.

Though Dr. Bosker's book covers an intimidating subject in a very comprehensive way, fortunately, his writing is clear and straightforward and the book is well laid out, so it is easy to use. An index and table of contents allow you to look up the specific medications you're interested in and zip to the section that covers them. There is also a bibliography of references, if you want to do further reading, and a list of organizations which can give you more information about prescription drugs.

I believe this important reference book should be in every American home, particularly those with children on medications or with elderly people who have multiple prescriptions.