« 2008 MFP Outstanding Merit Award Nominations Open | Main | Data indicate growing numbers of suicides, attempted suicides among veterans »
February 08, 2008
Many patients unaware of additive effects of prescription drugs
On the front page of its Personal Journal section, the Wall Street Journal (2/7, D1, Wang) reports that many people "are often woefully unaware of the potential serious consequences of the additive effects of prescription medications," and medical examiners frequently "find multiple drugs in toxicology reports of people that died of drug overdoses."
The "most commonly abused groups [of drugs] are strong opioid or narcotic painkillers, such as OxyContin (oxycodone) or Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone), stimulant medications such as Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) and Concerta (methylphenidate), and sedatives for sleep or anxiety, such as Xanax."
The most dangerous prescription drugs "are those that act on the central nervous system and suppress breathing," with opioid analgesics ranking among "the most potent." The Journal notes that "[t]aking multiple drugs is also dangerous, because the breakdown of the drugs in the liver may be slowed, in effect keeping the drugs in the body for longer, which could cause toxicity."
Related Link:
- "When Mixing Medications Can Be Deadly," Shirley Wang, Wall street Journal, February 7, 2008.
Posted by admin at February 8, 2008 11:52 AM