Reviews (14)

Great Drug Guide!
I am a 3rd semester nursing student and I absolutely love this drug guide. I have used others before, but this one is the best. It has the best IV drug administration info. It has side effects listed as the most life threatening in bold, and the most frequent in underlines. That makes it easy to wade through all of the possible side effects to the most likely and the most threatening that you may need to know for patient care and, of course, when getting quized by clinical instructors :) When my friends can't find a drug or a detail about administration they always ask for my book or my PDA (i have this version on my PDA also). This is the best drug book I have seen; it also has nursing diagnoses and great patient teaching instructions.

Davis's Drug guide report from the field
Im currently a RN student and many of the students in my class including myself use this book. I've actually used 3 different brands but this book stands above all. It lets the reader know important points about the drugs and does not confuse as some of the other books have done w/elaborate terminology. Davis keeps it simple and its well designed. Software isn't bad as well but I find myself using the book more often when I look up the drugs.

Getting out of date every day - Not a Mac CD
I use this in nursing school and am finding a new edition is needed. Many new drugs commonly used are not in this eighth edition. I also am disappointed that they advertise the CD rom as Windows or Mac - clearly not usable in the Macintosh. :(

This is the only drug book you will need
I have bought four different drug books since I began nursing school ...I sold the other three after I started using this one.
The disc is great for finding information for clinicals....and plan on keeping it after I graduate....well done!

Keep this with you while administering meds to clients.
I teach nursing, and this DAVIS Drug Guide for Nurses is a must-have for all my students as they learn how to professionally administer medications to their clients.
All nurses should have a convenient system to use when the occasion arises that a nurse gives a medication that they are unfamilair with...I found that this DAVIS Guide is a quick and easy way to investigate the medication, it's indications, contraindications, nursing considerations and idiosyncrasies. Adverse reactions and normal dosing ranges are included for all medications .....
There is also caution advised to prevent medication errors....near misses are always preferred over real errors any day. How the heart skips a beat whenever that happens!
Nurses NEVER intend to make errors, and this book gives a cautionary tale in the beginning - to help professionals understand the grave seriousness of it all.
It's never too late to buy an informative drug guide, and here I recommend this book to ALL --- professional or not.
It's cruicial that all people who give medications or take them understand the actions of the medications comprehensively.
The more one knows the more choices they posses.
Before you pass the meds,
pass the DAVIS Drug Guide! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Valuable Resource With Room for Improvement
As a returning reviewer who has purchased Dr. Silverman's book for each of the last three consecutive years, I would once again like to state that while I applaud the product as a whole, there are issues that continue to present themselves. In this particular case, the issue concerns the potential adverse interactions when combining a psychotropic drug (drugs used to treat mental and/or emotional disorders) with caffeine.

My attention was drawn to this after having a somewhat harrowing experience while on Prozac many years ago. After consuming a cup of coffee that was not the decaffeinated brew I requested, I experienced an array of disturbing symptoms approximately two hours later. I felt a sudden head rush, followed by lightheadedness, agitation, restlessness, racing thoughts, aggressive impulses, and other symptoms. Because I was at work at the time, I left early, but the symptoms grew worse during the commute home. Finally, after several hours of bed rest and food, I returned to normal and then back to work the next day.

Besides disavowing my usual practice of buying decaf coffee on my way to work (for obvious reasons), I determined that caffeine, perhaps especially for those who are already sensitive to the drug, reinforces the effects of Prozac and other drugs in its class. Not only were the symptoms disturbing, but they virtually incapacitated me for an entire day, costing me a day at work.

Similarly, I have found that other drugs, namely, Strattera (used to treat ADHD), may adversely interact with caffeine as well. On one day in particular while I was taking this drug, I drank two caffeinated beverages. Later that day, I experienced such severe anxiety that I was once again forced to abandon my activities while the apparent effects wore off.

For the most part, I could not attribute the reactions I experienced to anything else in my routine. Yet astonishingly, I have not come across any related cautions or warnings from medical professionals, pharmacies, drug inserts, or The Pill Book on prescription drugs and caffeine. And I believe that this needs to change.

Caffeine use is so prevalent in our society that its role in combination with medicines should be investigated and addressed. Unfortunately, I believe that it is precisely this reason--its common use--that allowed for the apparent assumption that it has a negligible effect on the human body in this and other contexts.

Mental health professionals, physicians, Dr. Silverman, Bantam Books, and the like: if you read this, please take this feedback under advisement.

Making Sense out of sorrow
Excellent source for reviewing in depth different prescriptions. ... Read more

Book Description

New, Expanded, Improved, Comprehensive

Building on its best-selling predecessors, the new PDR for Herbal Medicines, Third Edition has left no resource unturned to bring together the latest scientific data in the most comprehensive herbal reference compiled.

The third edition goes far beyond the original source, adding a new section on Nutritional Supplements and new information aimed at greatly enhancing patient management by medical practitioners. All monographs have been updated to include recent scientific findings on efficacy, safety and potential interactions; clinical trials (including abstracts); case reports; and meta-analysis results. This new information has resulted in greatly expanded Effects, Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions, and Dosage sections of each monograph.

>Indexed by common name
>Asian, Indian and Homeopathic Herbs Index
>Safety Guide
>Daily dosage information for unprocessed herbs and commercially available brand name products >Manufacturers' Index, including name, address, contact information and product list
>Trade names of available products added to each monograph
>Expanded Drug/Herb Interaction Guide
>Therapeutic Category Index
>Clinical Management of Interactions ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Practical Guide to Natural Medicines is better!
I'm a former practicing pharmacist, now a health promotion educator who must, for my lectures, keep up to date on the rapidly emerging information (peer reviewed research & commercial publications, internet, etc.) about medicinals, vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbs, natural remedies, etc. available to public with and without a prescription. My goal is to ferret out fact from fiction. I believe THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION PRACTICAL GUIDE TO NATURAL MEDICINES is a MUCH BETTER (a FIVE star) resource--especially since it's a 1999 publication that cites sources including German monographs that are basis of PDR. The description of APA Guide, on Amazon.com, does not do this book justice. Once I got PRACTICAL GUIDE TO NATURAL MEDICINES I no longer used PDR.

PDR for Herbal Medicines
I just received this book. I'm a family physician and I get lot of questions about herbal products. This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference source on herbal medicines. I found infromation on new interactions between St. John Wort and cyclosporine, AIDS drugs, and others. I would strongly recommend other physicians to get this book.

Buyers beware on this one.
This was published by Medical Economics and no author is listed. If you're a true herbalist, expect this book to be slanted to the drug cartel's viewpoint.

Andrew Bentley (Alfalfa and Buckwheat) aptly pointed out that info is left out and it says some data is not available, but it is.

Jerry Cott in his review points out their report on St. John's Wort. Do you really think this was not done on purpose? Imagine the dollars lost if people stopped taking the drugs that this herb will sometimes help.

Be sure to read what the pharmacist said. I applaud you as your lively hood depends on this type of manipulation of the truth.

Buyers beware on this one if you want the truth.

Best Herbal Reference
This is the most complete reference for herbal medicines that I have seen.It contains many common names as well as Latin names. Being a Certified Pharmacy Technician for 15 years this is a must have. There are probably 100 questions a month on what the side effects and interactions are of various herbal medicines. It is an invaluable reference guide for all pharmacies!

Pdr has produced a benchmark!
Haven previosuly used herbal medicines, and being an inqusitive person by nature, I simply had to examine this reference work, i.e., PDR for Herbal Medicines (1st Ed). What Pdr has accomplished is no small feat. They have taken the most used and common herbal medecines and put them all in one vollume. Want to find out about St. Johns Wort and its effects and side effects. Then this source is the right answer and it will supply the answer. The picture section all the herbs is a nice addition and the latin names for these herbs is a bonus. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

For medical transcriptionists who need to find accurate information quickly, Saunders Pharmaceutical Word Book 2005 is a must-have! This fast, easy-to-use reference provides the correct spelling and capitalization of over 25,000 brand- and generic-name drugs with dosage forms, investigational drug names and codes, chemotherapy protocols, trademarked dosage forms, and drug categories/classes. Although it is not a prescribing reference, it also contains the indications of approved drugs and standard dosages. * Pharmaceutical information is organized specifically for medical transcriptionists, designed to help them determine which drug is being transcribed and confirm correlating information * Useful appendices give transcriptionists exactly the information they need in a quick, convenient format saving them valuable time ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Big applause!
This book is crucial to the life of a medical transcriptionist. Updated annually, as the world of pharmaceuticals changes on an ongoing basis, Saunders has the king of drug word books. They cross-reference medications, list info for the generic and brand name drugs under each (e.g. "acetominophen" and "Tylenol" with same info) to minimize double-lookup, unlike the so-called "Quick Look Drug Book." Experimental drugs and discontinued products are listed together with the rest, so one does not have to access a separate appendix. Strengths of dosage (20 mg, 40 mg, etc.) are given, generics are not capitalized, etc., all critical info for an MT. Also included is a "sound-alike" list as well as "sound-alike" info within each individual entry, which often is very helpful. There are other similar publications out there and I've tried several, but Saunders is clearly the best IMO for the transcriptionist's needs. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the most reliable resource on the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements available today.

The 2004 edition offers complete, FDA-approved descriptions of the most commonly used OTC medications, four separate indices and in-depth data on ingredients, indications, and drug interactions. It also includes a valuable Companion Drug Index that lists common diseases and frequently encountered side effects, the prescription drugs associated with them, plus OTC products and dosages recommended for symptomatic relief.

A new section with information on nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbal remedies is included. Color photographsof hundreds of OTC drugs are also included for quick identification, all cross-referenced to the detailed drug descriptions. Don’t miss out on all the new features—guaranteed to help your patients ... and your practice—in this completely updated volume. And don’t risk basing your recommendations on information that is now out-of-date. Make the 2004 PDR for Nonprescription Drugs and Dietary Supplements™ a part of your professional library today! ... Read more

Book Description

The ultimate A-to-Z illness and drug reference guide.

This revised and updated edition of the bestselling classic guide provides the necessary information about all the prescription and nonprescription drugs that the public has come to rely on-from one of America's most trusted physicians. Includes:

- Revised information on new FDA Regulations
- Easy-to-use chart format for quick access to data
- Guidelines to avoid dangerous interactions
- Information on dangerous side effects
- Warnings and vital data for safe use - Over 5,000 brand names and 700 generic names ... Read more

Reviews (2)

From Abacavir to Zyrtec...
You might think you can find everything you need to know about prescription drugs on the internet. However, I've found that certain sites give too much info (chemical structure of the medication), or too little (no warnings about side effects, etc). This book is a great reference for prescription drugs of all kinds. I just wish it covered over-the-counter drugs.

A full-color Drug Identification Guide starts out this book. Then most of the book is an alphabetical list of prescription drugs. I didn't have any trouble finding the ones I was looking for. From the coumadin my mother-in-law is on, to the protonix my mom is on, to the Celebrex I take for osteoarthritis to the Allegra my daughter takes for her allergies, it's all here.

One of the features I like is that there is a range of dosages. I've seen books that have NO dosages at all. Of course, this has to be determined by the doctor for each individual patient, but it's nice to have an idea of what the range is.

After the section with all the drugs, there are articles on various health problems. While that might be helpful, what I really appreciated was the 13-page "Disease and Disorder Index". The diseases are in alphabetical order, then the drugs commonly used to treat that problem are listed below, with the page numbers where you can find more information. With so many medications have similar names - for instance, Celebrex for arthritis and Celexa for depression, it's great to have a quick and easy way to find out what drugs are prescribed for what conditions.

Thank you Pdr Family Guidebook
No home with a Child should not be without this book. It makes understaning/taking prescription so easy. I take this book with me everytime anyone in my family go to the doctor office. ... Read more

Book Description

The most practical tool in drug information for nurses, the PDR is a comprehensive resource of over 1,000 monographs that include action/kinetics; uses; interactions; overdose management; contraindications; nursing considerations; and patient teaching.New features include an expanded Bioterrorism Appendix and bonus drug monographs on the website, nursespdr.com. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Used Daily
I use this book daily in my work and consider it a vital part of my analyzing the interaction of prescribed drug use among my clients. I am not a health care professional, but need access to medication descriptions and usages. The "PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook" is easy to use and includes a detailed index that makes it easy to look meds up. The book also lists generic drug names and includes dosages and interaction information. Highly recommend for anybody involved in prescribing or administering drugs.

You need this book, if you're an open minded nurse!
Very professional and very accutate drugs referencer. Provides you maximum useful information, including nursing considertaions and implications in very readible and compact format. Drugs compatibility table, administration instructions, dosages and many other useful in practice details are all here, in this little, compatible, easy to care book. If you're a nurse and you want to stay updated with pharmacological innovations, get this book, it's worth every cent!

Clear, Concise, and Informative
I received the PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook from my husband for Christmas. As a second-level clinical nursing student, I have referred to it daily for information on the latest drugs, their actions, contraindications, interventions and teaching plans. This book offers information in terms anyone can understand. I would recommend it for nurses and students alike.

An excellent easy to understand resource for nurses
I received the 1999 Nurses PDR book for Christmas. I had heard great things about it, and now I know why. It is very easy to follow and has all the latest drugs. It helped me get through my last semester of nursing school, and now it is helping me in my first year in my nursing profession!

Disappointing overall
I had been unimpressed with the computer disks enclosed in earlier editions of several publisher's drug books, but I had liked the Delmar PDR handbook in '98. It seemed worth a chance that this CD edition would be closer to what I needed to make customized medication information printouts for my patients. It was closer, but not by much. The program is ok, but the number of drugs covered is very limited and the whole thing is evidently for the nursing student rather than working professionals. ... Read more

Book Description

An Indispensable Reference Guide for Every Pharmacy

The premier drug information reference, this fully updated resource gives you detailed coverage – including both labeled and off-label used – of more than 11,000 generic and brand-name drugs dispensed in the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to being updated with the newest drug information, this edition has been enhanced with two new Off-label Uses Indices.You will have access to the most current list of off-label uses sorted by drug, and sorted by indication.The editorial staff, comprising distinguished physicians, pharmacists, nurses, toxicologists, and other healthcare specialists, thoroughly research and evaluate medical literature to substantiate clinical off-label uses.

Each thoroughly researched drug monograph provides important details about:
>Indications
>Drug interactions and other precautions
>Pharmacology/pharmacokinetics
>Side/adverse effects
>Patient consultation guidance
>Dosing information
>Dosage forms
>And more

USP DI and Advice for the Patient are registered trademarks used herein under license. Originally created and edited by the United State Pharmacopoeia until January 1, 2004, and now entirely edited and maintained by Thomson Healthcare Inc. ... Read more

Book Description

Celebrating 108 years of service, RED BOOK® remains pharmacy’s most reliable source for product information for prices on prescription drugs, OTC items, and reimbursable medical supplies. With valuable clinical and pharmaceutical reference information, RED BOOK is the essential resource healthcare professionals reach for every day.

The NEW 2004 RED BOOK®, with extensive updating and additions, not only brings you the latest pricing and product information on over 100,000 Rx and OTC items, but also includes a broad spectrum of the healthcare information you need — all in one volume — to cope with pharmacy’s changing role in the medical, pharmaceutical, and retail marketplace.

With healthcare rapidly changing, there is still one source for all your needs — comprehensive RED BOOK pricing and descriptive information, including:

-Practice management

-Nationally recognized average wholesale prices (AWPs), direct prices, and federal upper limit prices for prescription drugs

-Suggested retail prices for OTC products

-NDC numbers for all FDA-approved drugs

-Complete package information including dosage form,route of administration, strength, and size

-"Orange Book" codes — FDA-approved drug products with therapeutic equivalent evaluations

You’ll also find these convenient extra reference features:

-Vitamin Comparison Table: Amounts of vitamins and minerals in over 50 popular multivitamin products

-Common Laboratory Values: Answers to the most common patient questions about urine sugar level, cholesterol, blood pressure, and more

-Guide to Leading Herbal/Alternative Medicines

-Pharmacy Buying Groups: Group PurchasingOrganizations in the pharmaceutical marketplace

-NCPDP Billing Standards

In addition, RED BOOK® is continually evolving to help you meet the challenges of the changing healthcare environment. Offering a wealth of reference information, RED BOOK delivers the instant answers you need to make decisions that affect your business. You’ll find such helpful items as:

-Summaries of the drug-food, drug-alcohol, and drug-tobacco interactions that you can adapt for patient use

-Sugar-free, alcohol-free, lactose-, and galactose-free, and sulfite- containing product listings for customers with special needs

-A complete list of FDA-approved new molecular entities, generics, and OTC products

-Comprehensive manufacturer, pharmaceutical wholesaler,and third-party administrator directories

-Full-color photographs of hundreds of Rx and OTC products

Comprehensive, timely, and accurate — the 2004 RED BOOK is simply the best single source of information to help you keep pace with today’s changing healthcare environment!

800 pgs. ... Read more

Book Description

The ultimate A-to-Z illness and drug reference guide.

This completely current edition of the bestselling, classic annual provides the necessary information about all the prescription and nonprescription drugs that the public has come to rely on from one of America's bestselling guides.

Includes: € Revised information on new FDA changes € Easy-to-use chart format for quick access to data € Guidelines to avoid dangerous interactions € Information ondangerous side effects ... Read more

Reviews (4)

QUALITY AT THE RIGHT PRICE
The "Complete Guide to Prescription & Non-prescription Drugs" may not be a perfect drug guide, but considering its extensive coverage ... it is a clear winner. With information on more than 5,000 brand names and more than 700 generic names, it deserves a second look.
This book contains simplified pharmaceutical and pharmacological information that is designed for non-medics. It is quality at the right price! Be it weight by weight or volume by volume, this book is superior to "The American Pharmaceutical Association's Guide to Prescription Drugs". It's worth every dime you spend on it.

Informative but not key information concerning dosages.
This book does not include recommended dosage ranges for drugs. Thanks.

Comprehensive, Comprehensible, Indispensable
Comprehensive, comprehensible, and updated annually, this Guide is indispensable for anyone who takes prescription medications. The Guide includes generic as well as brand name drugs, provides basic information on its uses, whether it is habit forming, how it should be taken, what to do if you forget a dose, possible side effects, their frequency and what to do about them, precautions for special circumstances, and possible interaction with other drugs or substances.

I bought the first one years ago for my parents because my mother seemed to be always taking one drug to counteract her previous prescription, and Dad had a lot of allergic reactions. Doctors can't remember every possible side effect of all the drugs they prescribe, so this book helped identify problems caused by medications rather than other reasons. I get my Dad the new version every year, and he passes his old one down to my family. When we are prescribed a new medication not in last year's version, we go to Dad's new edition.

At times over the years I've been late in getting Dad his updated edition, and he has purchased several other prescription drug guides. None was nearly as easy to use, and not one provided as much useful information, as Griffith's Guide.

A Must Have
This is the most compleate drug book I have come across. It gives basic information, possible adverse reactions and side effects as well as uses of the drug. Contains both Brand and generic names. This book is so good I have family and friends call me to look up information... This book will give you a compleate picture and you will stay informed... ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (16)

Must reading for anyone on long term prednisone theraphy!
A heartfelt thank you to Eugenia Zukerman and Dr. Julie R. Ingelfinger. I read a review of your book "Coping with Prednisone" in the Sunday Parade magazine. Immediately ordered same from Amazon.Com. Ms. Zukerman is the FIRST person I have discovered who suffers from the same disease that I do: Eosinophilic pneumonia, (aka Pulmonary Infiltration with Eosinophilia, or P.I.E.) I was diagnosed in 1987 and in reading Ms. Zukermans account, it could have been me writing the story, almost line for line. I also suffered with the battle of understanding what the Prednisone was doing to me, physically and emotionally, while it was doing it's wonder job of making me better. I thought at times I was crazy, until I begged one of my doctors to get me some help.... "information about side effects of Prednisone". He copied several pages of information from the hospital library, (for doctors only), but at least I had something to compare to, even though it was written in medical terms. I have felt for years that if a patient is on long term Prednisone therapy, detailed explanations should be furnished to the patient, as the side effects of the drug are so varied and at times most devistating. I have been on Prednisone for 12 years. I have learned to live with the side effects, but at times it is extremely difficult. For me, it has become a "trade-off". The prednisone is keeping me alive, so I must accept what else it is doing to me as payment. I have been an M.S. patient for 28 years and in 1991 was diagnosed with S.L.E. (Lupus). However, the Eosinophilic pneumonia has been the most difficult and devistating disease of the three. Unfortunately in my case, the eosinophilic infiltrates only stay at bay when the dose is 5mg. or higher. 60mg. needed to control a major flair of the eosinophilia. I would appreciate very much if Amazon.Com would forward this letter to Ms. Zukerman's publishers and request that they send it along to her. It is very comforting to know that one other person has this rare malady and has experienced many of the same things that I have. I wish I had had this book to read in 1987. It would have made coping with prednisone so much easier!

I thought I was alone in my Prednisone Side Efeects
I was looking for a book to help explain the side effects from the prednisone, that I've been on for the last 14 year's due to asthma that I have had my entire life. None of the doctor's were willing to give up the answer for some unknow reason. When I started read this wonderful book I said to myself, Oh My God, someone actually wrote a book on everything I was wondering about. The more I kept reading the more I understood how to deal with this awful but life saving drug. I wish I could say thank you to Eugenia and Julie in person. I belong to two asthma chat groups online through the internet. I have recommended this book to everyone. And mostly everyone has baught the book. Although I may never be able to get off steroids, as I've been told by my doctor's at least I have a better understanding about Prednisone. I recommend this book to everyone with asthma and other illnesses that require prednisone. It's the best book.

A must Read
I have ITP....a blood platelet disorder and am on steroids. Steroids do many strange things to the body. This book was an unbelieveable mirror of my side effects on and coming off Prednisone. I found myself talking to the book saying right on, you got it, and thank you for acknowledging my pains.
I can't speak for everyone, because everyone experiences different things with this steroid, but, I can tell you that the information will not hurt you and most of all the message that all this is temporary and can be beaten with some coping skills will make live on Prednisone far better. I've read chapters of this book 4 times to keep reminded of my plight...I am a chronic ITP patient.

The Bible of Prednisone
My husband was put on massive doses of prednisone without being told what side effects or consequences the drug would bring. The doctors who prescribed the medicine didn't even know what to expect. My husband had horrible side effects. Finding this book was a life saver for it verified and explained every symptom my husband experienced. We no longer felt alone, someone else knew and described what he was and would be going through. We are thankful this book was written for it gave us laymen knowledge of this horrific/wonder drug, and how we should handle the side effects. Needless to say we immediately sent a copy to his doctor as well. If you are on even the smallest doses of pred. this book is a must read.

For long term pred users, this book is a MUST
I was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura this past year, and am going through my second round with pred. This book is a must have for those of us faced with daily doses of this drug, and who face months, if not years, on it at a time. When I first was placed on .5mg/pound daily, I thought I was losing my mind. Nope, it was just the pred. Thank gosh for this book, I thought I was going to have to be committed to a nut hut. Not only does this book tell you the "NORMAL" side effects, it tells you how to deal with the side effects, and if a side effect is hard to deal with (like insomnia) the author tells you the best times to take your pred, and other hints to help gear the pred around your life. NOT having the pred dosage run your life.

This is also a book to have for the family of pred users, I am going to have my husband read it next, because it gives an accurate description of what one person feels on pred, it can help others who are close to the pred user also. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the most reliable resource on the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements available today.

The 2003 edition offers complete, FDA-approved descriptions of the most commonly used OTC medications, four separate indices and in-depth data on ingredients, indications and drug interactions. It also includes a valuable Companion Drug Index that lists common diseases and frequently encountered side effects, the prescription drugs associated with them, plus OTC products and dosages recommended for symptomatic relief.

A new section with information on nutritional supplements, vitamins and herbal remedies is included. Color photographsof hundreds of OTC drugs are also included for quick identification, all cross referenced to the detailed drug descriptions. Don’t miss out on all the new features—guaranteed to help your patients ... and your practice—in this completely updated volume. And don’t risk basing your recommendations on information that is now out-of-date. Make the 2003 PDR for Nonprescription Drugs and Dietary Supplements a part of your professional library today! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent- a masterpiece
This book has truly vastly surpassed my expectations. It has several indexes- one comprehensive index, one for drugs, one for nutrients and the drugs that affect them, monographs on all the nutrients, and then the piece de resistance, the abstracts of the medical literature to back it all up.

Written by a team of pharmacists, it is very even handed and lists the negative literature as well as the positive. Thus one can ascertain which nutrients are affected by which drugs, and vice versa and quickly review some of the medical literature to make up one's own mind. I've found it helpful.

Some good examples are that omeprazole reduces B12 absorption around 70%, that simvastatin reduces Q10 production significantly, HRT reduces B vitamins, anticonvulsants reduce vit D folate and calcium.

Unfortunately it doesn't deal with anesthetic gases- N2O depletes B12 and halothane causes oxidative stress on the liver.

I still have more to learn about this book, but it is one of my best purchases. ... Read more

Book Description

Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook is a reliable and easy-to-use source of current drug information needed by the busy health care provider. What separates this book from others is that it guides the user through clinical priorities in the practice setting to promote better patient care. Its main objective is to provide essential information for thousands of medications in a user-friendly format. ... Read more

Book Description

If you're either taking, or thinking of taking, vitamins or herbs along with your prescription and non-prescription medications, then you and your family must have this book! Millions of people, just like you, use both without knowing that some combinations are beneficial while some can be downright dangerous.
Based on the information from Healthnotes Online database, the A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions is written by a highly respected team of natural medicine experts --medical doctors, naturopathic physicians, and pharmacists-who have created a natural health information resource that is both comprehensive and user-friendly.
The A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions helps you learn which drugs can deplete your body's essential nutrients; which supplements can help your prescriptions work better, or reduce drug side effects; and which herbs and drugs should never be taken together.
Did you know that:
·Along with bad bacteria, antibiotics kill good bacteria that need to be replenished?
·Birth control pills deplete the body's stores of folic acid?
·Asian ginseng may help your flu vaccine work better?
·Ginkgo can help reduce Prozac-induced sexual dysfunction?
·Vitamin K can destroy the drug action of Warfarin®?
"The A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions is presented in a very clear and concise manner—making it accessible to both health professionals and consumers. It is an indispensable resource for people who take medications, as well as those who prescribe or dispense them—and it's especially useful for anyone concerned about nutrition and herbal therapies. It will be an essential resource on my bookshelf."—Joe Graden, MS, Author The Peoples' Pharmacy
"This comprehensive review of drug-nutrient interactions—by far the most exhaustive of its kind—is an invaluable tool for all consumers and professionals, integrating the worlds of conventional and alternative medicine."—Julian Whitaker, MD, Editor, Health & Healing newsletter
"The use of this excellent book can do so much to improve a person's general health and knowledge. Putting into practice the easy-to-use information in this book can help avoid many potential problems and can greatly increase good health and well-being."—James M. Brodsky, RPh, Instructor, University of Southern California College of Pharmacy
Recommended by the Today Show. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good but not great.
There's a lot of good information in this book but I would not recommend it as a reference.

First of all, it isn't totable: it's format makes it a clunker. It's 8 1/2 by 11" and its page format is such that the book could have been printed with half the paper. The added appendices are pretty useless considering the main A to Z section entries pretty much tell you exactly the same thing.

Second of all, the formatting is inconsistent; adding question to your inquiry. Did they make this entry as complete as they did that one?

I very much prefer Meletis/Jacobs' and Brinker's books to this one. For intuitiveness and extensive cross-referencing, Meletis/Jacobs' wins hands down.

A Book for Today's Health Consumer
The authors of this book have made a significant contribution to the resources available for today's health consumer. By providing this current, well-organized and useful "guide" they are helping those of us trying to protect or improve our own health, and those of us facilitating others in doing that, tremendously! Their research is thorough and and unbiased - I highly recommend it.

A "Must Have" Reference for Patients and Doctors.
The editors and authors of this HealthNotes publication have presented the most up-to-date information in an easy to read format without compromising scientific judgement. In the information world of alternative medicine, it is all to easy for conventional medical texts to react out of fear by recommending "extreme caution" for just about any prescription or possible nutrient/herbal interaction. "The A-Z Guide..." does a tremendous job of integrating insights of physicians form several different disciplines (the book is written by an MD, ND, and DC, et. al.), which provides the reader with a diverse and thorough scientific review of known and suspected interactions. I have personally found this book extremely helpful in the waiting room and on my desk as a quick refernce. ... Read more