Why Dogs Can't Eat Chocolate : How Medicines Work and How You Can Take Them Safely

Adverse reactions to prescription medicines are now a leading cause of death in America. If you are one of the millions who take at least one prescription drug regularly, how can you stay safe? Though powerful treatments, medicines are unpredictable because they don't work the same in everyone, just as chocolate has a different effect on your pet than it does on you. Why Dogs Can't Eat Chocolate: How Medicines Work and How YOU Can Take Them Safely bridges the gap between what doctors may assume you know about your medicines and what you actually understand about how to take them safely. Pharmacist and award-winning medical educator Louise Achey has been translating complex and confusing concepts about how medicine works for thirty-four years. From Barney the Bassett hound puppy's encounter with chocolate to the three "Ds" of taking medicine safely, Dr. Louise explains in a clear and entertaining way what happens in our body when we take a medicine or supplement. She uses a common question (why is chocolate so dangerous for dogs?) to illustrate why side effects from medicines happen to some of us and not to others, and provides specific proven strategies to help you take your medicine and food supplements safely. A pharmacist explains the science behind prescription medications—with helpful hints for avoiding adverse reactions and side effects. If you are one of the millions who take at least one prescription drug regularly, how can you stay safe when their effects can be so unpredictable—and occasionally even dangerous? Just as chocolate has a very different effect on your dog than it does on you, prescription drugs don’t always work the same from person to person. In this book, a pharmacist and award-winning medical educator simplifies the complex and confusing information about pharmaceuticals, reveals the three “Ds” of taking medicine safely, and explains in a clear and entertaining way what happens in our bodies when we take a medicine or supplement—to help you make safer, smarter choices for your own health. Why dogs can't eat chocolate. Barney's story How medicines work. Which medicine? ; How much medicine? ; Medicine goes in ; Medicine moves around ; Medicine goes out How you can take medicine safely. Taking medicine safely : the "3 Ds" ; First "D" : the drug (what) ; The second "D" : the dose (how and how much) ; The third "D" : the diagnosis (why) 5 key strategies for protecting you and your loved ones from the dangers of drug therapy. Keep a list ; Use a pill box ; Be a squeaky wheel ; Always ask ; Don't share 25 ways you can avoid medication mishaps. "Bridges the gap between what most of us understand about pills and what most doctors assume you already know about your medication."--Back cover.