Deadly Combo?

A pharmacology expert explains how the types of drugs found at Heath Ledger's apartment can affect the body and why they are potentially lethal if taken incorrectly.

By Karen Springen | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 23, 2008 | Updated: 7:30  p.m. ET Jan 23, 2008

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  • Posted By: lilica @ 01/24/2008 5:02:19 PM

    If Americans don't pay attention or wake up for what is going on with the prescriptions that the doctors are giving to us,...tragedy like this one , Anna Nicole Smith, and others ones will happen more often I'm not saying that his doctor or doctors gave him lots of medication to take or even saying it is doctor fault; but I had a very strong depression, anxiety, panic atack... The american doctors in general, are giving very strong
    medications to people that really doesn't need that much . I took one and I passed out for over 8 hours (just sleeping).My husband thought I was dead that time.And I felt miserable when I woke up.I din't take no more medications for anxiety, etc..
    Nobody needs that much medications...
    Do you want to know How I got healed?!?
    Being close to God, and Jesus Christ.Lots of prayers...

    God bless his family!I pray God has mercy,and blesshim!

    • Posted By: WENDY9929 @ 06/03/2008 11:50:46 PM

      Do you understand what panic disorder is and how it affects your body and life. If you really need the meds, you don't sleep for 8 hours, you feel normal and get quality of life which everyone is entitled to. I should know this,because I have this disorder and I don't bug out or sleep when I take my meds. I just feel O>k> and get things done that need to be done. Do you understand that ?

  • Posted By: sweetpants @ 01/24/2008 5:06:29 PM

    Below you say it was his choice and only his choice to take medication and It is also the choice of the men and women who serve our country to die for our freedom...they are not forced. I feel badly for them as I do for the Ledger family and everyone else. Death is a terrible thing to deal with anyway you look at it and no matter how the person died. It is not better one way or another.

    • Posted By: ntez2plz @ 01/24/2008 5:29:53 PM

      Your right, our soldiers are fighting by their own choise. The ones that have lost their lives, atleast they died for a cause and not because of stupidity

      • Posted By: WENDY9929 @ 06/03/2008 11:45:40 PM

        It's just very sad that these yooung men are joining the military,wanting to go Iraq, because of the propagnda and stupidity of george bush.When they come back, they say they never would have went if they knew the truth about what was happenong over there. Use your brain and look past the ideology that the governmentportrays this war to be. There is no rreason to be there and when the soldiers who are not killed over there, like in my family,agree with me.It is Bush's stupidity,trying to glamorize this war ,that persuades a young mind to go over there.

  • Posted By: WENDY9929 @ 06/03/2008 11:36:18 PM

    I definitely think this was an accident, Although Lunesta and Ambien depress the respitory system, they are not used for , or are not in the the same class as diazapam(Valium) and alprazolam(Xanax). Lunesta and Ambien are hypnotics, while Valium and Xanax are class 3 and/ or 4 drugs(controlled substances) that are used for anxiety, not sleep. So, if someone were to take meds for two different symtoms(insomnia and anxiety)but at the same time, it is a definite risk of depressing the respitory system and eventually stopping the heart.Temazepam(Resoril) is also a sleep aid related to Xanax and a controlled substance but Lunesta and Ambien are not contolled or the same family of drugs.Maybe , he thought he could have been thinking or taking bad advice about how to remedy his symtoms and the different drugs all settled in his intestines at the same time because thats where they are absorbed. Definitely an accident and anwondeerful actor that will be missed!!!!

  • Posted By: onelittleangel67 @ 02/17/2008 1:08:42 PM

    I really don't beleive that he killed his self. he had to much too live for. i am sure it was a accident

  • Posted By: Dona Luna @ 01/30/2008 11:31:14 PM

    I have told others that r Ledger went to sllep as his body told him to, and it also told him he did not have to breathe. I have used all the drugs he hasd scrips for, one at a time. Lunesta, Ambien, Valium, and Zanex, are all in the same class, and on the top teir as to cost. They all give you a false feeling of wellness, can cause rebound sleeplessness, nervousness, ect as they are hypnotics. If one of theses did not work for Mr Ledger, the others would not either, and Ambien had me doing things in my sleep like I was very awake, even driving! There is enough evidence to support this, but as long as a dr gets comped to write the scrip, the drug rep to sell it, and we as a society brainwashed nto ads thinking it's going to help..
    "first do no harm" Mr Ledger's death just might open these insanity up and put it to an end.

    DonaLuna

  • Posted By: julie913 @ 01/30/2008 12:10:26 PM

    Also to consider is the effects of prescription medication and over the counter together. I take Imitrex for migranes and thought it might be sinus related. I took some over the counter decongestant and it affected me so heavily that I was afraid to go to sleep as I felt very woozy and sick. I felt like I wouldn't wake up either. Scared the Hell out me.

  • Posted By: nowhutimsane @ 01/29/2008 3:12:48 PM

    celebrities get good drugs!

  • Posted By: hollyberries05 @ 01/26/2008 8:22:04 PM

    I highly doubt 1 physician prescribed all the medications listed, being that some of them are essentially the same drug. It looks classically like the scenario you get when pts either doctor shop, keep around old pills, obtain black market meds, forget what meds they are on/don't disclose all the medications they are on at the time of visit, or claim that whatever they are on doesn't work and they get an alternate script.

  • Posted By: youropiniontoday @ 01/25/2008 11:34:23 PM

    What really gets me is the fact that people are put on these medications in the first place while trusting that these "professionals" know what they are doing. It is obvious that psychiatric drugs do not work as we have seen over the years with both children and adults; yet despite the fact that they are dangerous, good people are prescribed them continuously. Why is it that we tolerate this and believe in these people when they have no stats to show of success!

  • Posted By: elliemarie @ 01/25/2008 10:34:49 PM

    A talented, young father, son and brother has died. He worked in the entertainment industry. It is both sad and tragic. The article has tried to explain how it possibly could have been avoided. Hopefully, those who are prescribed similar medications have taken notice so this same thing does not happen to them or someone close to them. Why use this blog to judge? Learn people....just learn.

  • Posted By: CTTommy @ 01/25/2008 1:30:55 PM

    As someone who knows quite a bit about benzodiazepines, I find it odd that the doctor would not comment how dangerous they are to detox from. If Ledger were taking them in large quantities and then all of a sudden decided to stop, he would be at great risk for seizure, stroke etc. Most drug detox centers will not accept individuals who are on these class of drugs because of the medical risks.

  • Posted By: getwithit43 @ 01/24/2008 3:19:18 PM

    People need to remember he has a 2 year old surviving him and she will hear all this someday. Leave it be. Maybe it was an accident, maybe it wasn't. He is gone, nothing can change it, nothing will change. He probably got the prescriptions at different times, therefore making the comments who would give them all at once babble. We do not know. Why speculate and make assumptions. Do people seriously have nothing better going on in their lives???????

    • Posted By: Tell It As I See It @ 01/24/2008 3:31:30 PM

      I definitely agree with this comment. We need to let this go for the surviving members of his family, most expecially his beautiful little daughter! Would you want all this nonsense going on about you, your death and your family? Geez, enough already!

      • Posted By: rstone21 @ 01/24/2008 3:41:06 PM

        Well if thy are going on discussion board and looking to see what people are wirting then what? It's not like this dicussion board is thrown in their face. So, how is his 2 year old going to see this? She's not!!! so Let people say what they want without regard, they must be looking for rumors, gossip, or speculation if they come across this board.

        • Posted By: Tell It As I See It @ 01/25/2008 11:55:10 AM

          You are definitely right! Actually I came across this board quite by accident and unfortunately human nature being what it is, I took a look. After seeing just a few comments, it was not in me to turn my back and not say anything. It is extremely rare for me to go onto any boards and am a newbie when it comes to this type of website. I was taking a break from some serious Internet searching when I happened across the article. Excuse me for having an opinion and obviously one that rattled your cage! Why so defensive? I am only stating my opinion same as you and everyone else! An attack on my character is not only a low blow but really has nothing to do with the actual topic of discussion concerning the untimely death of this human being. All I was really trying to say is that we should (all of us, me included) begin to see these people as people and quit putting them up on pedestals so high that when they come tumbling down their life and the lives of their families become similar to poor Humptey Dumptey!

    • Posted By: shailythapa @ 01/24/2008 3:22:12 PM

      I agree with you 100%. Health is gone forever. Let him rest in peace please and stop assuming stuffs for god's sake

      • Posted By: getwithit43 @ 01/24/2008 3:29:07 PM

        Ever heard the old expression assuming makes an as_ out of you and me? Why speculate, wait for the information to be given. Be respectful. His family mourns, his child is fatherless. I just can't take the diatribe that is coming out of this. He was a decent actor. I enjoyed his films. It is sad when I think of his child, and his family. I have a 26 year old and I would be crushed. No doctor intentionally gave him all of those prescriptions the same day, that is ludicrous. And do we seriously believe we will get the label off each bottle to show who, when etc? No. We will get pieces.

  • Posted By: roseree @ 01/25/2008 11:03:26 AM

    It's a shame when somethone so young and promising dies. I wish doctor's would not just give out scripts for these meds like they were candy. I blame the doctors, they know how bad these meds are and should limit the type and amount they prescribe, no matter how important, rich or famous a person is. I worked many years as a nurse for a doctor and I know how many pills they overly prescribe and no one does anything about it. And a lot of patients think the pills are ok as long as a doctor prescribed them. Then they mix them with alcohol and while taking them, forget how many they took., Something needs to be done about doctor's over prescribing lelthel drugs/combination of drugs, thank you Rosemarie

  • Posted By: phoenician28 @ 01/25/2008 10:46:59 AM

    Who really made a mistake. Ourselves, for mentally and biologically, not being prone to things such as addiction, or our doctors for making and giving medication that we have learned ,over and over again, that we are only human. We do not, and will never be able to take responsibility at all times.

  • Posted By: newperson @ 01/25/2008 9:55:22 AM

    I am sorry to hear about your husband. But, he was on ALL of those meds at the same time? Either he wasn't truthful w/ his doctor/s, or you need a lawyer.

  • Posted By: Verna @ 01/25/2008 7:41:44 AM

    Please, Lets not elevate someone to the status of sainthood because they have now passed away. He made a mistake. period. He should have been and probably was advised on how to take these meds. He obviously didn't feel that it was important enough to pay attention. If not for himself then for his child. As for for you attitude ...You are what is wrong with todays society. " It's all okay. I't not your fault that you screwed yourself up. Lets find someone else to blame." Give everyone a pat on the back and let them all think they are not responsible for their own actions. IT IS A FACT. THIS IS HIS LEGACY.

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