Problem drugs
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Problem drugs
Zed Books, 1995
- : hbk
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Note
"HAI, Health Action International"--T.p.
Originally published as a pack by Health Action International
English language book edition: first published by Zed Books
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Covering problem drugs, this book looks at what it claims is a massive misuse of drugs resulting from the way they are prescribed and used. It argues that the industry's drive for profit is creating a global marketplace littered with products which are ineffective, in appropriate, irrational, useless or needlessly expensive. The book covers: antidiarrhoeals, antibiotics, analgesics, cough and cold preparations, growth stimulants, brain tonics, vitamins, drugs in pregnancy. contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and psychotropics. It documents the dangerous products still available, the preparations containing ingredients that do not do what they claim, the irrational combinations, the needlessly expensive products and the drugs which are not necessary. It argues that irrational drug use has its own consequences for public health, including treatment failures, patients suffering from unnecessary side effects, increase in antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms and the waste of patients' money and scarce national health resources. Health workers are dependent on the pharmaceutical industry for unbiased comparative information about the medicines they use. The book claims that the industry spends more on marketing than research, emphasizing the positive aspects of products and on the attributes that are perceived to give the product a marketing edge. It highlights the areas where action can be taken to remove products that are ineffective, irrational or potentially hazardous.
Table of Contents
- Introduction - what is a drug problem?
- drugs and children - starting the habit of a lifetime
- women and drugs - disturbing a delicate balance
- drugs and the elderly - too often, too many, too much
- antidiarrhoeals - dying for lack of a drink
- antidiarrhoeals containing antibiotics - a dangerous combination
- hydroxyquinolines - worldwide withdrawal - overdue for 20 years
- diphenoxylate - "not an innocuous drug"
- loperamide - not for children
- antibiotics - the antibiotic crisis
- analgesics - killing pain
- dipyone - a drug no-one needs
- NSAIDS - new sort of aspirin in disguise
- cough and cold preparations - peddling placebos
- growth stimulants - swatting the symptons of malnutrition
- brain tonics - drugs in search of a disease
- vitamins - vitamins stimulate growth...of the pharmaceutical industry
- drugs in pregnancy - unnecessary risks
- DES - the time bomb explodes
- EP drugs - a sordid sorry tale
- contraceptives - who's in control?
- the pill - lowering the risks
- IUDs - effective... but safe?
- injectables - not the first choice
- implants - contraceptive freedom of coercion?
- hormone replacement therapy - sellin eternal youth
- psychotropics - tales of dependence.
by "Nielsen BookData"
