Worst Pills, Best Pills, edited by Sidney Wolfe, M.D, et al. Pocket Books, N.Y., 2005 This remarkable 900+ page book is an encyclopedia that anyone who is even vaguely considering a drug should consult.

Indeed, this post is being written the very week when three more categories of drugs hit the skids.

One of my least favorite so-called pain relievers (and I have always considered it a hyped placebo!) Tylenol and all its clones, acetaminophens, DOUBLE the incidence of hypertension. Most other real NSAIDS also increase the risk of hypertension, although overall they do not have the other toxic effects of Tylenol.

Then the PILL, that major insult to the entire endocrine system, has finally been reported to increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer. We have known for decades that these pills increase the risk of stroke. And, although ”convenient”, the Pill is no better at preventing pregnancy than a diaphragm with a spermicidal cream.

Worst Pills, Best Pills emphasizes many warnings that do not appear in the PharmacoMafia’s little leaflets that are sometimes provided with prescription drugs.

For instance, there are 14 PAIRS of drugs that can cause life-threatening reactions. Interesting that Viagra is one of those (with nitroglycerine). And even St. John’s Wort with the PILL. And don’t forget Lopid with Mevacor or Lipitor with Tricor.

Of course, all the statins can cause life-threatening reactions even when taken without other drugs! Or Prozac, which significantly increases the risk of suicide, is made even riskier when taken with Mellaril. The book also lists 181 top-selling drugs that should NEVER be taken!!

The list of drugs such as vitamin d K2 or others that can CAUSE depression is almost three pages long. And there are 23 pages devoted to Drug-Induced Diseases.

Remember that over 2000 people die EVERY WEEK from prescription drugs.

Remember also that the BEST antidepressant is at best 42% effective, with at least a 25% complication rate.

If you won’t consult this terrific book, at least go to the Internet BEFORE you take any drug and read extensively, especially all the warnings and complications. You can find most information with a little extra work.

More importantly, NEVER TAKE ANY DRUG ELECTIVELY!! Unless you have a significant illness, which really requires drug treatment, avoid drugs.

Most of those advertised on TV are unlikely to be needed. The PharmacoMafia is pumping them. Before filling any prescription, ask your physician what are the risks of the illness without the drug. And talk with a pharmacist personally to learn all the risks/complications — or side effects, a real oxymoron, if ever there was one. Those side effects may cost you your life.

You do not need birth control pills. You do not need Tylenol/acetaminophen. You do not need statins. You do not need Ativan or Valium. And it now appears you do not need NSAIDS! Try Curcumin, Boswellin, and, of course, aspirin. If you do not have allergies to aspirin, it works better than most NSAIDS. Take it with a 500 mg capsule of glutamine, to help avoid the intestinal irritation.

You can treat depression twice as effectively and totally safely with the Liss CES and Shealy RelaxMate II. You can treat anxiety and tension with magnesium lotion and many forms of deep relaxation, including the RelaxMate. You can control cholesterol far more effectively with beta sitosterol and lecithin. Take control of your life and save your life by avoiding WORST DRUGS

C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. is the father of holistic medicine. He recommends autogenic focus (the basis of the Biogenics System) as part of your commitment to self-health. Register to download your FREE autogenic focus MP3 now.