Prescription Drugs: An Indispensable Guide for People Over Fifty

As the graying of America advances, the demand should increase for age-specific books such as this one. The author, who holds a doctorate in pharmacology, explains that with aging comes both an increased use of and greater sensitivity to prescription drugs. According to Katcher, ""a person who is 60 to 70 years old is nearly twice as likely to experience a problem with drug therapy as is a person 30 to 40 years of age.'' The aim of this book is to prevent drug-induced illness by supplying readers with useful information on the ways drugs work and interact. Part one is a brief survey of how aging affects one's responses to drugs. Part two, the bulk of the book, is a practical reference to those drugs most commonly prescribed to patients over the age of 50. The 92 entries, alphabetical by generic name, list the various names of a given drug, explain what a drug is meant to do, and detail possible side effects and interactions with other drugs, alcohol and food. This is a lucid, if somewhat alarmist, compendium for older readers. (January 21)