Stockley's Drug Interactions Pocket Companion 2011

Abstract

Stockley's Drug Interactions Pocket Companion 2011 is the abridged partner to the sizable Stockley's Drug Interactions. This pocket edition is a quick, convenient reference text with the same information in abbreviated form. This information is fully referenced and based on clinical studies, case reports, systematic reviews, and evidence-based practice, but the bibliographic data are not found in the pocket edition. It is only available in the larger text or online . The pocket companion contains more than 1,500 examples of interactions between drugs and drug groups, foods, supplements, and herbal preparations. Take for example, aspirin. Aspirin is listed as potentially reducing the effect of some diuretics; increasing coagulation time if taken with heparin or ginkgo biloba; increasing the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding if taken with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); decreasing the absorption of vitamin C; and if taken with food, aspirin's analgesic effect is delayed, though not reduced. Even with this effect, it is still recommended to take aspirin with food to minimize the drug's gastric irritability property. Found only in the pocket edition are unique symbolic tags following a drug name. These are meant to give a “heads-up” to the clinician. “X” indicates a drug interaction that could be life threatening; “!” means a potential hazard requiring close monitoring; “?” means there is some doubt as to an interaction, therefore it would be advisable to make patients aware of the possible side effects that would need to be reported; and a plain checkmark means there are no significant interactions noted. Stockley's Pocket Companion has a list of 39 abbreviations used in the text, a 71-page index, and no table of contents or introductory explanations regarding drug interactions. Drugs are listed alphabetically starting with ACE inhibitors and 8 pages of possible interactions with other drugs or substances. There are no interactions included for drugs beginning with the letters X, Y, and Z. The pocket edition contains no pictures, tables, or graphics. This differs from Stockley's regular-sized edition, which has a list of nearly 100 abbreviations used in the text, a 213-page detailed index, a table of contents, and occasional graphs and charts. This volume also has a detailed introduction summarizing drug categories and an explanation of the mechanisms of drug interaction including physiological details. Stockley's Drug Interactions Pocket Companion 2011 is an annual update of the less-frequently published Stockley's Drug Interactions. The companion information is compiled from the most recently available online quarterly updates of Stockley's. While the pocket edition does not have the scope or the depth of the full-sized monograph, it has the benefit of being up-to-date, accurate, brief, portable, and economical.