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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Reference Books
        
(Message started by: burnt-toast on Jun 9^th, 2005, 12:18pm)

Title: Reference Books
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 9^th, 2005, 12:18pm

Any recommendations for good prescription drug and physicians reference books? Mine seem a little outdated lately.

Thanks

Tom

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by vig on Jun 9^th, 2005, 1:22pm

Physician's Desk Reference?

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 9^th, 2005, 11:17pm

vig -

Not necessarily, I have an old one that I use along with online sources but I don't find many of the meds. being discussed here listed in it. Online sources seem a little weak.

Found prescription drug references from Merck, Davis, Hawleys (includes chem. dictionary), Mosby, Goodman & Gilman etc. Also the physician's desk reference isn't well reviewed in some cases. Wanted to know if anyone was familar with these or other good/complete references.

Tom

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 10^th, 2005, 8:38am

HANDBOOK OF HEADACHE MANAGEMENT, 2nd ed., Au. Joel Saper, MD, 1999, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. A highly condensed volume for doctors but good for "advanced" clusterheads who have a grasp of medical terminology and medications. Covers all types of headache with the section on cluster being brief. Sections on general considerations in treatment and on medications are important.

MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $49 at Amazon.Com. This volume is better organized and easier to read for nonprofessionals compared to Saper's book. It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 11^th, 2005, 1:56am

Bob_Johnson

Sometimes I think these things are really boring holes in my head and the doctors are just afraid to show me the MRI's.

Anyway, I was able to track down all three books and I think I'm going to start with Management of Headaches and Headache Medications - because of the two chapters on CH. Appreciate the assist.

If I still need more information on meds./interactions I'll pick up something med. specific.

Tom

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 11^th, 2005, 10:35am

Well..."The Pill Book" (which you can buy at any drug store) is really not a bad book for the average consumer. You could go a step further by getting a Mosby or Saunders drug book, but these are generally geared towards nurses or physicians, depending which you buy.

Also for headache, I have 2 favorite books of mine which aren't on Bob's list.

Wolff's Headache (that's an abbreviated name) by Silberstein et al. (I'd give you the exact info...but I don't have the book right in front of me)

"Migraine and Other Headaches" - by William Young and Stephen Silberstein ---- This one is an excellent book for patients. It has a chapter on clusters, although I haven't read it in quite awhile... I just really like the style of the book. :)

Lots of reference books out there for a variety of purposes - but it sort of varies depending on what type of reference you want, how in depth you want to go on certain topics, and of course - how much you want to spend!!

Good luck
L2 :)

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 13^th, 2005, 11:10am

Lizzie2 -

With the exception of Wolf's Headache? (There are a number of books with similar titles) I've tracked down the references you provided. I'm getting loads of good information to sort through. Thanks for assisting.

Tom

Title: Re: Reference Books
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 13^th, 2005, 12:47pm

Here ya go!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0195135180/ref=pd_sxp_f/103-2373192-8083031?v=glance&s=books

(There are other books written related to this one which may cost less or be written in a less scientific manner, depending on what you're looking for. Sometimes I even read this book and go "huh?" and for the most part - I was trained pretty well in that area and also with the nursing background... Let's just say I ask them lots of questions when that happens!)

Good luck again!
Lizzie :)