Mixing Medication, Heath Ledger, and What You Should Know

steve hayes

2/ 8/08 5:39pm

As the director of Novus Medical Detox Center, we see the prescription drug epidemic and the horrible problems that it causes. Mnay of the patients who come to us might find themselves overdosed, like Heath Ledger, if they had waited longer. Oxycodone has a very similar molecular structure to heroin and they both produce the same dependence or addiction. Ritalin is similar to cocaine and creates the same effect on adults.

Other prescription drugs like Xanex produce some of the strongest and most difficult withdrawals and people have become dependent on it in as little as 3 days.

Daily in Florida we are losing people to prescription drug overdoses. They were not famous like Heath Ledger but they were someone's son or daughter or husband or wife.

We need to educate people that just because a drug is available at a drug store it is not necessarily safer than a drug purchased in an alley.

Steve Hayes

http://www.novusdetox.com

Florence Cardinal

2/13/08 11:18pm

Hello Steve, and thank you for explaining more about the overuse of prescription drugs. A few years ago, I was taking several pills a day. After dinner, I thought I hadn't taken my pills, so I took them. When I began to have heart palpitation and perspire, I realized I'd taken a double dose. I was taking both a high blood pressure pill and a water pill. I ended up spending the night in the hospital.

Now, since my surgery, I'm taking pills for pain, and I have to keep track, especially at night, or I might double dose again.

Florence

steve hayes

2/14/08 12:23am

Florence,

I understand your concern because a prescription drug overdose can create serious problems. Many of these drugs act in the body like heroin or cocaine.

I am not sure about your operation but we have had success with having our patients who have detoxed go to holistic doctors to try to find the cause of their ailments and not just take pills for the symptoms. Maybe this is not an option for you but for most of us prescription drugs only create other problems and these are often treated not by stopping the drug but by taking more drugs.

Steve Hayes

http://novusdetox.com

Sue

2/10/08 11:27pm

Thanks fo rth eupdate Florence.

Ok I dont want to start anything, but it always amazes me how there can be SO many different drugs being mixed up in these scenarios. I just do not understand how multiple doctors with multiple prescriptopns could ever end up being a good thing for someone.

Anyway - I hope at least some folks out there learn you can not mess with any kind of medication - over-the-counter, herbal, or prescription.

All the best - sue

Florence Cardinal

2/13/08 11:23pm

Thanks Sue. It isn't always multiple doctors. I take over a dozen pills a day, all prescribed by one doctor. It is best, if at all possiible, to always have the same doctor, but when you start going to specialists, you can end up with several doctors. One thing you should dp is keep a list of your medications so every doctor you see is aware of the medications you're on.

Skye

9/22/11 4:29pm

Taking all your medications knowledgeably and following doctors orders is so important, I am a nurse and thought I knew enough to "make a few switches" with the result that I became enough confused enough that I actually ended up in the hospital, sleeping for 3 days.

It has taken a couple of years to get an MD to trust me enough to prescribe to me again and I know now that the dose that is allowed to be given with another med needs to be taken exactly as ordered.

Because of this trust, Ambien has changed my world. I know of all the misgivings re sleep meds but after suffering with pain for so many years, awake and crying i believe it is worth the risk, as long as I NEVER decide to prescribe for myself. I mean NEVER, because once you step over the line it is too easy to go further and further.

Skye

9/22/11 4:29pm

Taking all your medications knowledgeably and following doctors orders is so important, I am a nurse and thought I knew enough to "make a few switches" with the result that I became enough confused enough that I actually ended up in the hospital, sleeping for 3 days.

It has taken a couple of years to get an MD to trust me enough to prescribe to me again and I know now that the dose that is allowed to be given with another med needs to be taken exactly as ordered.

Because of this trust, Ambien has changed my world. I know of all the misgivings re sleep meds but after suffering with pain for so many years, awake and crying i believe it is worth the risk, as long as I NEVER decide to prescribe for myself. I mean NEVER, because once you step over the line it is too easy to go further and further.