Prescription for Disaster: The Hidden Dangers in Your Medicine Cabinet - Hardcover

Moore, Thomas J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684829983 ISBN 13: 9780684829982

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 1998

Synopsis

Become an informed consumer--learn how to get the greatest benefits from prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and natural compounds at the lowest risk.The long-term safety of Ritalin is unknown, yet hundreds of thousands of children take it daily. Prozac is linked to 242 adverse effects. Xanax can be highly addictive. But most doctors don't warn patients about the risks of the medication they prescribe. What can you do?This groundbreaking book sounds a clear warning about the serious health risks associated with prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications--and exposes the side effects that kill 100,000 people a year and put another million in the hospital. Consumer advocate and prizewinning investigative journalist Thomas Moore reveals the shocking truth about the dangers you face each time you swallow a pill, offering invaluable advice on becoming an informed consumer--and keeping yourself and your family safe. Discover: The riskiest prescriptions The potential dangers of cough syrups, pain relievers, cold medicine, diet pills--and other over-the-counter medications Lethal drug combinations Crucial information you can get from your pharmacist Messages to watch for in the drug package insert Important information on: Ritalin, Prozac, Premarin, Zocor, Procardia, Coumadin, Darvon, Halcion, ibuprofen, beta-carotene, Lanoxin, and more--

About this title

From the Author

Why I wrote this book.
This book was born with the same horrifying story I tell in the opening chapter. A neurosurgeon named Gary Kaufman told me of waking up one morning on vacation to discover his wife dead in bed beside him. She died of cardiac arrest and an autopsy report implicated an antihistamine called Hismanal. I decided to check how many deaths occurred each year from the adverse effects of prescription drugs. When I discovered no one was even counting, and that drug-related deaths are rarely reported, I decided to write this book.

About the Author

Thomas J. Moore has spent six years researching and writing about the safety of prescription drugs as a senior fellow in health policy at the George Washington Medical Center.  His previous book, Deadly Medicine, documented the tragedy in which tens of thousands of heart patients died from drugs that caused cardiac arrest.  He has testified before Congress and lectured at universities and medical centers.  Before turning to full-time research on health issues, he was a prizewinning investigative reporter and worked for the U.S. Senate staff.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0684829983
• ISBN 13: 9780684829982
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 271