A Handbook of Psychoactive Medicines

by Terence Duquesne, Julian Reeves

Mood-altering (psychotropic) drugs account for one quarter of all prescriptions dispensed by the National Health Service in Britain. In the past fifteen years there has been a fifty per cent increase in the number of these prescriptions. Yet the medical profession relies to a large extent on information supplied by the drug companies' representatives and advertisements, and many doctors prescribe solely or mainly on the basis of direct or indirect advertising of products. The number of cases of wrongful prescriptions issued, particularly for psychotropic agents, is alarming and illustrates the need for laypeople as well as professionals to have ready access to accurate information. This handbook fulfils that need.

Given that the conventional chemical names are unlikely to be familiar to the patient, it provides an easy way for tablets and capsules to be identified, with all drugs being listed alphabetically and fully cross-referenced for English and United States variants. Each entry contains notes on actions and usages, dosages, side-effects, interactions with other drugs and warnings, and will enable the patient to check exactly what he or she is being prescribed. Also illustrated are the esoteric abbreviations and symbols so often used by doctors.

The highly technical books and articles on psycho-pharmacology are virtually out of reach to all but doctors. The few books on drugs which are directed to the non-specialist lack important details and frequently contain inaccuracies. This handbook bridges the gap between the two groups and provides an indispensable aid for both prescriber and user.

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982