What Everyone Should Know about Medicine

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.  It is a comprehensive medicine user guide for common public. A must for every one! Contents: Part A: General Topics 1. You as Consumer of Medicine Use (Consumers’ Rights)2. You must know about your Medicine3. Names of Medicines (Medicine -What is in a Name?)4. Types of Medicines (Dosage Forms)5. Branded vs Generic Medicines6. Buying Medicines7. Medicines’ Price8. Expiry Date of Medicines9. Storing Medicines at Home10.Laws and Regulations Governing Medicines11.Rational use of Medicines12.How do Medicines Work13.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 Too16.Adherence to Medications17.Missing a Dose (If you Miss a Dose ----)18.Prescription and Non-prescription Medicines19.Medicines for Children20.Medicines for Elderly Persons21.Medicines during Pregnancy (Are Medicines during Pregnancy Safe?)22.Medicines during Breast Feeding (Avoid Medicines during Breast Feeding)23.Development of Medicines24.Clinical Trials25.Be Informed before Participating in Clinical Trials26.New Drugs: Pros and Cons27.Drink and Medicines28.Food and Medicines (Does Food affect Medicine?)29.Home Medicines Kit30.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 Medicine36.Patent Medicine-Battle Finally Won!37.Use, Misuse and Abuse of Medicines38.Use and Abuse of Medicines in Sports39.Splitting of Tablets40. Use of Injections41.Jan Aushadhi for Affordable Quality Medicines42. Off Label Use of Medicines (Pill Poppers, Wake Up!)43.Herbal Medicines Part B: Medicine Administration 44.Orally Taking Medicines45.Ophthalmic Medicines46.Ear Products47.Nasal Products48.Metered Dose Inhalers49.Rectally Administered Products50.Vaginally Administered Products Part C: Individual Medicines 51.Pain and Fever Relieving Medicines52.Gastric Acid Relieving Medicines53.Antibiotics54.Anti-Malaria Medicines55. Anti-Tuberculosis Medicines56.Anti-Asthma Medicines57. Constipation Treating Medicines58.Contraceptives59.Cold and Cough Medicines60.Anti-diabetic Medicines61. Anti-diarrhoeal Medicines62.Medicines for Filariasis63.Medicines for Anaemia64.Vaccines65. Vitamins66.Anti-Emetic Medicines (Medicines for Vomiting)67. Cosmetics Use68.Anti-High Blood Pressure Medicines69. Medicine for Lice Treatment70. Cholesterol Lowering Medicines71. Probiotics72. 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. He has more than 30 years of teaching, research and professional experience at various levels with credit of more than 450 publications including newspaper columns and popular articles. He has travelled widely and visited countries like Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Japan and Italy. Besides, his regular teaching and research responsibility at Annamalai University, he participates as trainer on Rational Use of Medicines, Medicines Management and Pharmacoeconomics; and delivered more than 140 invited lectures. He is the author of several popular books.