June 2008
Avoiding lethal drug cocktails
More people now die from the misuse of prescription drugs purchased legally in pharmacies than from illicit drugs bought on
the street. And the victims aren't all depressed young movie stars. All too often the deaths stem from a series of bad decisions
made by stressed individuals who are unaware of the possible consequences.
For example, someone unable to sleep because of severe back pain might take a double dose of a narcotic painkiller along with a potent sleep aid. That, on top of the antidepressant the individual usually takes, might be enough to brew a potentially deadly mixture.
The number of people who die each year from accidental poisoning, mostly from prescription drugs, rose by 63 percent from 1999 to 2004, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And that trend is probably continuing, in part because more people are taking multiple medications. That's especially worrisome for older people, whose reduced liver and kidney function makes drugs linger longer in their systems.
Opioid painkillers, sedatives, and anti-anxiety drugs pose the greatest threat. But all medications, including over-the-counter ones and even some dietary supplements, can cause problems if taken in excessive doses or when combined with other drugs. To reduce the risk of misuse, accidental overdoses, or drug interactions, follow these steps:
This article first appeared in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
For example, someone unable to sleep because of severe back pain might take a double dose of a narcotic painkiller along with a potent sleep aid. That, on top of the antidepressant the individual usually takes, might be enough to brew a potentially deadly mixture.
The number of people who die each year from accidental poisoning, mostly from prescription drugs, rose by 63 percent from 1999 to 2004, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And that trend is probably continuing, in part because more people are taking multiple medications. That's especially worrisome for older people, whose reduced liver and kidney function makes drugs linger longer in their systems.
Opioid painkillers, sedatives, and anti-anxiety drugs pose the greatest threat. But all medications, including over-the-counter ones and even some dietary supplements, can cause problems if taken in excessive doses or when combined with other drugs. To reduce the risk of misuse, accidental overdoses, or drug interactions, follow these steps:
- Don't double the dosage of any pill, especially a narcotic pain reliever, because you think it isn't working. Instead, ask
if your doctor can prescribe a different drug or recommend another treatment.
- If you take antidepressants, painkillers, sedatives, or sleeping pills, ask your doctor which, if any, can be safely taken
together.
- If you're recovering from a respiratory illness, be especially wary of sedatives, since they can depress breathing.
- Don't save medications prescribed for short-term problems, such as pain after outpatient surgery, for future use. And don't
take other people's drugs or share yours with others.
- Consider keeping your medications locked up, especially if you have young children or teens at home or as visitors.
- Carry a list of the prescription medicines, OTC drugs, and dietary supplements that you take regularly, and make sure you
understand their purpose and potential risks.
- Whenever you get a new prescription, especially if you see several doctors, ask whether it duplicates or interacts with any
other drug you take. Have your primary care doctor review all your drugs and supplements at least twice a year.
- Try to get your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, preferably one that uses a computerized system that tracks all
your prescriptions and automatically checks for interactions.
This article first appeared in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
