The Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Drugs (Facts on File Library of Health and Living) (Facts on File Library of Health & Living)

The use of therapeutic drugs is on the rise in the United States, and many Americans use more than one prescription or over-the-counter drug for everything from minor aches and pains to life-sustaining medication. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 percent of Americans used a prescription drug in 2008, marking a rise in the use of prescription drugs over previous years. In the same year, an estimated $234.1 billion was spent on prescription drugs. In 2009, approximately $16.8 billion was spent on over-the-counter drugs, according to the Nielsen Company.

The Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Drugs is a one-stop guide to the major types of drugs in use today. This insightful new reference helps readers understand the different kinds of drugs, how they work, and how they interact with foods and other drugs. Each article discusses a particular drug's history, its purpose, what it treats, how it is used, off-label uses, differences in its use and effect among varying ethnic and social groups, side effects, and future prospects for improvements or new drugs of the same type. The history of the pharmaceuticals industry in the United States, the FDA approval process for new drugs, and the economic, political, and social issues that affect the development and sale of therapeutic drugs are also examined in this comprehensive resource. Appendixes include common prescription abbreviations, common medication errors, online drug databases, prescription drug assistance programs, state boards of pharmacy, and pharmaceutical associations.

Key topics include:

-Analgesics
-Antidepressants
-Antidiabetic agents
-Antineoplastics
-Antiparkinsons agents
-Corticosteroids
-Decongestants
-Immunosuppresives
-Respiratory inhalants
-Vaccines.