The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs, 12 Top Meds for 2012

The book that brings more than 45 categories of information to covered medicines since 1978. This edition of the Essential Guide gives 11 detailed profiles of top medicines representing more than 236 brands and a "Mystery Medicine". This is a new “Essential Guide” for a new age – a re-imagined reference book by Dr. Jim Rybacki, who breathed new life into the bestselling medical self-help books of the same name in the ‘90s – now paints a fresh portrait of the most popular medicines for 2012 and beyond. This book has been a labor of love and medicine since my first involvement in 1993, my transition to first author, then sole author, then the death of Dr. Long, my own heart attack in 2005 and now the rebirth of the Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs (EGPD) in 2012. Great depth and detail has always been the hallmark of the EGPD (for example, this book has literally 24 pages on aspirin), and now I've added new design, pictures, larger type and important Do's and Don'ts to help keep you and your family safe and even key Questions to ask your doctor BEFORE you start a medicine!

The book that brings more than 45 categories of information to covered medicines since 1978. This edition of the Essential Guide gives 11 detailed profiles of top medicines representing more than 236 brands and a "Mystery Medicine". This is a new “Essential Guide” for a new age – a re-imagined reference book by Dr. Jim Rybacki, who breathed new life into the bestselling medical self-help books of the same name in the ‘90s – now paints a fresh portrait of the most popular medicines for 2012 and beyond. Since 1978, the many popular editions of “The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs” have delivered reliable, understandable information to millions of families and their loved ones. Always available without a prescription, now The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs: 12 Top Meds for 2012 is just what the doctor ordered for today’s readers. Not too long, not too short, this easy-to-read book includes the right amount of important information, deftly combining current medical thinking with plain English in 232 pages. From Aspirin and Botox to a breakthrough cancer treatment, the Top Meds for 2012 are scrutinized over at least 18 pages each and served up in Dr. Rybacki’s uniquely balanced style, along with possible side effects, cautions and herbal and prescription interactions that could save your life. Do you know the Do’s and Don’ts of your medicine? Find them in the Guide! This year, you’ll find 11 profiles of Top Meds for heart disease, diabetes, blood clots, preventing heart attacks and much more – packing 45 categories of information for each of 236 drug brands. The Companion web site also helps you keep informed about important news, breaking research and a bonus newsletter for people who buy the book. See why the new design, easy to read print and detail that makes this Guide the Essential Guide for your home. This book has been a labor of love and medicine since my first involvement in 1993, my transition to first author, then sole author, then the death of Dr. Long, my own heart attack in 2005 and now the rebirth of the Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs (EGPD) in 2012. Great depth and detail has always been the hallmark of the EGPD (for example, this book has literally 24 pages on aspirin), and now I've added new design, pictures, larger type and important Do's and Don'ts to help keep you and your family safe and even key Questions to ask your doctor BEFORE you start a medicine!

Dr. Rybacki is the president of the Medicine Information Institute and provides hospital, consumer outreach (cardiology guideline for consumers) publications and interim management services. He was the co-author of The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs from 1994-1999 and assumed full authorship 2000 through the 2006 edition. The book has sold more than 2 million copies and has now been released in electronic format AND with the top 11 medicines plus a 12th mystery medicine. He has coupled this new effort with a launch of www.EssentialGuideToPrescriptionDrugs.com. In a varied career, he partnered with The American Pharmacists Association in 1996. These research, writing and co-production efforts gave rise to the nationally syndicated Pharmacist Minute radio program. This balanced and objective program reached a peak of more than 2,000 radio stations in 1997. Working with the American Heart Association on the Compliance Action Program in 1998, he helped forge national tool kits and guideline driven practice. Early work with the Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) program of the American Heart Association gradually evolved into the present AHA GWTG-CAD and now includes GWTG Stroke as well. He joined the National Advisory Council of Mended Hearts in 2005 and subsequently published Medicines and Your Family. This 200 page, evidence-based book was included as part of the Mended Hearts Path to Recovery Pak and reached 100,000 US hospitalized heart patients through 2006. The second edition on heart attacks was guest edited by Dr. Blumenthal. Beyond cardiovascular disease, Dr. Rybacki has created numerous newsletters and updates. The consumer-oriented Good News and New Medicines has enjoyed more than 90,000 visits in its on-line format. In the Spring of 2007, Dr. Rybacki worked with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) on a national awareness project for patients living with type 2 diabetes and with Bayer on cardiovascular medicine (The Bayer Aspirin Pharmacist report). Dr. Rybacki is widely consulted in cardiovascular medicine, adherence and inpatient to outpatient continuity. An active speaker, he is also widely interviewed.