About the Book:

Medicines are perhaps the greatest weapons of the mankind to fight diseases and death, but are double edged weapons. They help recovering from illness and restoring health if used properly; but can harm if not used appropriately, even causing life threatening situations including death. Inappropriate medicine use is unnecessary wastage of resources. Medicines have helped increasing life expectancy but in some situations they have harmed too. The antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective due resistance developed by random use. The book provides guidance on using medicines appropriately in a simple and easily understandable language. 

           The book intends to empower the readers with skill and knowledge to make informed decisions about how to use medicines (including when not to use them) and get the maximum benefit. It helps to understand the importance of medicines inindividual’s health. The second edition of the book is updated with the new information on medicines as available. Many new themes are introduced with value addition like cartoons.

Contents:

Part A: General Topics

1.            You as Consumer of Medicine Use (Consumers’ Rights)

2.            You must know about your Medicine

3.            Names of Medicines (Medicine -What is in a Name?)

4.            Types of Medicines (Dosage Forms)

5.            Branded vs Generic Medicines

6.            Buying Medicines

7.            Medicines’ Price

8.            Expiry Date of Medicines

9.            Storing Medicines at Home

10.         Laws and Regulations Governing Medicines

11.         Rational use of Medicines

12.         How do Medicines Work

13.         Fate of Medicines in the Body (How does Body Handle Medicines?)

14.         Safety of Medicines (How do you Protect Yourself?)

15.         Medicines can be Toxic Too

16.         Adherence to Medications

17.         Missing a Dose (If you Miss a Dose ----)

18.         Prescription and Non-prescription Medicines

19.         Medicines for Children

20.         Medicines for Elderly Persons

21.         Medicines during Pregnancy (Are Medicines during Pregnancy Safe?)

22.         Medicines during Breast Feeding (Avoid Medicines during Breast Feeding)

23.         Development of Medicines

24.         Clinical Trials

25.         Be Informed before Participating in Clinical Trials

26.         New Drugs: Pros and Cons

27.         Drink and Medicines

28.         Food and Medicines (Does Food affect Medicine?)

29.         Home Medicines Kit

30.         Medicines during Travel (For Safe Travel, Pack Your Medicines Too!)

31.         Combination Medicines (Fixed Dose Combination Medicines – How useful they are!)

32.         Advertisement on Medicines (Say No to AD Treatment)

33.         Internet Medicines (e-Medicines)

34.         Medicine Information Sources (Where to Get Information)

35.         Patenting of Medicine

36.         Patent Medicine-Battle Finally Won!

37.         Use, Misuse and Abuse of Medicines

38.         Use and Abuse of Medicines in Sports

39.         Splitting of Tablets

40.         Use of Injections

41.         Jan Aushadhi for Affordable Quality Medicines

42.        Off Label Use of Medicines (Pill Poppers, Wake Up!)

43.         Herbal Medicines

Part B: Medicine Administration

44.         Orally Taking Medicines

45.         Ophthalmic Medicines

46.         Ear Products

47.         Nasal Products

48.         Metered Dose Inhalers

49.         Rectally Administered Products

50.         Vaginally Administered Products

Part C: Individual Medicines

51.         Pain and Fever Relieving Medicines

52.         Gastric Acid Relieving Medicines

53.         Antibiotics

54.         Anti-Malaria Medicines

55.         Anti-Tuberculosis Medicines

56.         Anti-Asthma Medicines

57.         Constipation Treating Medicines

58.         Contraceptives

59.         Cold and Cough Medicines

60.         Anti-diabetic Medicines

61.         Anti-diarrhoeal Medicines

62.         Medicines for Filariasis

63.         Medicines for Anaemia

64.         Vaccines

65.         Vitamins

66.         Anti-Emetic Medicines (Medicines for Vomiting)

67.         Cosmetics Use

68.         Anti-High Blood Pressure Medicines

69.         Medicine for Lice Treatment

70.         Cholesterol Lowering Medicines

71.         Probiotics

72.         Others

About the Authors:

Guru Prasad Mohanta, Former World Health Organization National Technical Officer, is a Professor of Pharmacy at Annamalai University. With his training and experience, he is passionate in educating the common man on appropriate use of medicines. He is the recipient of Best Researcher Award of Annamalai University in 2012 and IAPST Pharmaceutical Scientist of the Year 2015.