What can we help you find?

October 23, 2013 4:04 pm ET

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today the availability of a newly published book, The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms, which offers essential information on when to seek medical attention and when it may suffice for consumers to address their ailments at home. In an age when anxiety-producing medical information is only a few clicks away, it’s critical that consumers have a trusted resource for understanding symptoms and alleviating concerns that may be unfounded.

“Decisions about when to go to the emergency room, call the doctor, take action to relieve symptoms, or simply wait and observe can make all the difference in outcomes of many medical conditions,” said Editor Robert S. Porter, M.D. “This new book discusses the possible causes of common symptoms, what steps can be taken to get relief, and guidance on when symptoms require an urgent response.”

Of course, sometimes “watchful waiting,” tolerating temporary discomfort and merely alleviating symptoms are not proper courses of action. There are some warning signs that should never be ignored. In these instances, The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms clearly and unambiguously sounds the alarm.

Listed alphabetically for quick reference, over 100 common symptoms, from abdominal pain to wheezing, are detailed in more than 500 pages.

Each section provides causes, features, and options for relief of specific symptoms, as well as information on when to see a healthcare professional and what to expect, including descriptions of the tests that doctors may order.

The paperback features boxes highlighting key take-away points, two-color illustrations, more than 100 tables, an appendix of common laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures, as well as a detailed index.

Not-For-Profit Service

The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms complements The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook, which includes detailed discussions of treatments for diseases. Merck also publishes The Merck Manual of Health & Aging and The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health. These consumer references translate complex medical terminology into easy-to-comprehend language.

For medical and veterinary professionals, Merck publishes The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, The Merck Manual of Patient Symptoms, and The Merck Veterinary Manual.

All of the books are published as a not-for-profit service, have strict editorial independence, and do not include marketing information or promote pharmaceutical products.

The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms (ISBN#: 978-0-911910-98-8) retails for $17.95 and can be purchased online and wherever books are sold. It will soon be available as an app and as an eBook. For more information, visit www.merckbooks.com.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Merck’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contact
Merck
David Santoriello
(908) 277-4069