Taking Your Medications Safely

Every year, millions of Americans revisit their doctors, suffer needlessly, and even are hospitalized because of a prescribed drug. Now, at last, there's a guide that helps you steer clear of these all-too-common hazards. And the help comes from nurses, the health professionals you trust for the care you need.
America's leading nurses, in cooperation with pharmacists and doctors, prepared this guide to hundreds of the most commonly prescribed drugs. What's more, this NurseAdviser guide covers dozens of drugs you can get without a prescription.
Everything in this book is written clearly and in plain English. And all the drugs are listed in easy-to-find alphabetical order.
For each drug, you'll find out how to take it - plus what you should do if you forget a dose; which side effects can occur - and what you can do to relieve or even prevent them; when side effects can signal an emergency and require immediate medical attention; which other drugs you must avoid to prevent dangerous reactions; when drinking alcohol can be hazardous and what you should know about the drug if you're an athlete, pregnant, breast-feeding, or an older adult.
Using dozens of illustrations, this book shows you the medically correct way to use drops and inhalers, apply ointments, handle injections, and give yourself just about any other form of medication - easily.