The Aarp guide
to pills edited by
Maryanne
Hochadel
Mid-life and older Americans
look first to AARP as a trusted
source of the vital information
that will improve their lives.
Month to month and year to year,
the association's 36 million
members read and rely upon its
magazines, its newspapers, its
book-publishing division, and
its website (aarp.org). When
AARP says something, they know
you can take that information to
the bank. That's why book buyers
will turn to this lavish manual
for answers to their questions
about life-saving-and
life-enhancing-medications.
The AARP Guide to Pills has
been assembled with the same
degree of care and concern for
accuracy and ease of use that
distinguishes every product that
bears the AARP brand. That
rigorous quality control will
likewise distinguish the pill
guide from the competition.
It's the most outstanding and
up-to-date guide to pills and
medications ever published. The
only one of its kind in full
color, The AARP Guide to
Pills addresses the needs
and concerns of 50+ adults in
incredible depth. To simplify
the process of finding
information about a certain
drug, generic drugs are
presented in a logical A-to-Z
organization, with a
comprehensive index that
includes cross-references to
related brand-name drugs. All
information has been vetted by a
board of content specialists,
including an expert from the
University of Southern
California's School of
Gerontology, considered the
finest in the United States.
Each entry also features a
detailed, color-correct image of
the pill or capsule for
identification purposes, along
with details on its generic
name, brand name, and
manufacturer; a listing of what
a health-care provider should
know about the condition of
anyone taking the medication;
advice on what to do if you miss
a dose; warnings on interactions
with other drugs; and notes on
potential side effects to look
out for.
In their foreword and
introduction, Harvard-trained
doctors Jerry Avorn and Bill
Thomas provide clear and
comprehensive guidance on the
wise use of prescription
medications; how to effectively
manage your drug costs; how to
prepare for and derive maximum
benefit from each doctor's
visit; how to talk to your
physician and pharmacist; how to
avoid "polypharmacy," or
overmedication; and why the
appearance of generic pills can
change from one prescription
refill to the next.
This is a must-have book for
anyone 50+ and younger.
Review:
In this fast-changing health-care environment, consumers need to
become more knowledgeable and discerning
in their use of medical procedures and
medications. Living in a country that
allows direct-to-consumer advertising of
medications complicates the situation
for patients, physicians, and
pharmacists. The AARP has produced an
inexpensive, high-quality drug-reference
handbook that is valuable for all
potential medicine users, not just older
persons. Content is based on the widely
consulted Clinical Pharmacology
database [http://www.clinicalpharmacology.com],
produced by Gold Standard.
The entries are written in accessible
language and guide readers in what they
should know, tell, ask, and understand.
The drugs are arranged in alphabetical
order by generic name. Each entry is
accompanied by one or two photographs
showing such things as the pill size,
shape, color, markings, or packaging for
common brands. Information is clearly
laid out in the form of eight questions
covering what each drug is for; what to
tell health-care providers before taking
the drug; how to take the drug; what to
do if a dose is missed; how the drug
interacts with other prescription,
nonprescription, and illicit drugs as
well as foods, beverages, and dietary
supplements; what to watch for when
taking the drug; what side effects are
possible; and how the drug should be
stored. The advice on side effects is
straightforward and concrete. The layout
and descriptions are far more
understandable and useful for the
layperson than the professionally
oriented PDR with its scientific
vocabulary and instructions for doctors.
The "How to Use This Book" section is an
important feature, carefully explaining
how entries are formatted and what
information they provide. Two indexes,
"Disease and Disorder Index" and "Index
of Generic and Brand-Name Drugs," round
out the book.
This volume is highly recommended and
should be available in every public
library branch in all communities across
the country. It is well written and has
current information (as of 2005),
including a caution on Vioxx and
instructions on the return of unused
pills. Because drug knowledge is forever
changing, the AARP and Gold Standard
would do well to create new editions or
updates on a regular basis.
- Booklist
Visit the AARP's website
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