Deadly Combo?

Something has to be done about physcians giving RX for anything at all...
Instead of using exercise and nutrition as a remedy they simple prescribe drugs..
People also have to take responsiblity for themselves and say no to RX and ask what are my other choices.
Hopefully, this will be a wake up call for the FDA, Physcians and just people in general..

Speaking as an individual who recently ended a long term relationship because of my partner's substance abuse problem, I agree that it is probably premature, but rather likely, that while the "drugs" found in Heath Ledger's apartment were prescription medications they may very well have been abused and contributed to his death. Over the years, I have inadvertently learned of the different types of prescription medications that when taken with other types of prescription meds can cause a substance abuse problem that is not often detected by other people yet dangerous to one's health. Some drug addicts use both cocaine and narcotics for the rollercoaster effect, others try to get by with alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs. There are lots of combinations and each and every one is unhealthy -- even to the younger, otherwise healthy generation. Condolences to all who knew, loved and admired Heath. More than one life was affected by his passing.

Speaking as an individual who recently ended a long term relationship because of my partner's substance abuse problem, I agree that it is probably premature, but rather likely, that while the "drugs" found in Heath Ledger's apartment were prescription medications they may very well have been abused and contributed to his death. Over the years, I have inadvertently learned of the different types of prescription medications that when taken with other types of prescription meds can cause a substance abuse problem that is not often detected by other people yet dangerous to one's health. Some drug addicts use both cocaine and narcotics for the rollercoaster effect, others try to get by with alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs. There are lots of combinations and each and every one is unhealthy -- even to the younger, otherwise healthy generation. Condolences to all who knew, loved and admired Heath. More than one life was affected by his passing.

stuipd people do stupid things to themselfs this is what happend here.....

I'm upset with one news team saying there was a trace or drugs found on the $20.00 bill. They need to get there story straight. There was no trace of any sort of drug on the bill. Reporters now a days have nothing better to do than to make up all sort of bullshit, especially when it comes to actors. He hasn't even been gone all that long and they have no respect for his family or friends for that matter. They even had the nerve to go to his own parents home to do an interview. Give his family and friends time to morn the loss of a loved one. Show some respect for once in your life. To answer the question he has a 2yr. old little girl. Like another fan said he liked his privacy and tried to stay out of the public eye. So give his family and the respect that you would want if you were in this situation.

My husband and I were having a talk about Ledger last night, and i told him then - my gut tells me there's more to this story, and it's not suicide or a drug addict thing.... Lo and behold, seems I was right. This is yet another case of the MEDIA ruining someone's reputation through unsubstantiated information being tossed around. My hunch is that it will be confirmed that he died due to two perfectly legal drugs interacting badly in his system. Unfortunately the damage to his family and name are already done.

When i was in my first year of college I had a throat infection and was having a difficult time sleeping. My dr. prescribed a sleeping pill and I started taking them Friday evening. When I half awoke Sunday evening all the pills were gone. I must have kept waking up, not getting the sleep I was needing I unknowininly took another pill then another. When I heard of Heath's death, that day came back so vividly, I always said I could have died that day. I never realized how many pills I took in so short a time. I didn't want to harm myself and I'm sure Heath didn't either. My heart goes out to his family.

damama_d@hotmail.com
My heart and prayers go out to his family and friends but let us not forget, he not only left behind a legacy that could go on for years, but he also left behind a daugther who will never get the chance to to know him except through memories she has stored in her mind as a child and those who knew him best to share with her. Please, keep her in your prayers for she does not understand why daddy isn't with her any more.

Ive heard a lot about these sleeping pills. There was a woman in my area that was taking them and every night she would unknowingly wake up and do things that she had done earlier that day. i guess you could say sleepwalking. she actually drove to the store and purchased candy and drove back home and went to bed. maybe they should explore this more in Heath's case because i dont think that was the only time that has happened to someone!

I don't think people should take such offense to them making this so public, because the actors, models, singers, politicians, and all people that are in the public eye are not only our children's role models, but actually, all of our role models. I truely don't think that Heath was intentionally trying to kill himself-nor Anna and her son. I don't think Brittany wants to lose her kids,and make the bad decisions that she does. But the truth is, we learn from their mistakes...We learn not to take too many sleeping pills, or to mix more than one kind of sleeping pills. There might be other people out there that has been perscribed these same medicines, and they don't know that they shouldn't mix them...they can learn from this being made public.

This goes to show...people should always go to the same doctors, and always let your doctors know what type of medications that you are taking. You should always get you prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, because the pharmacists seem to catch the mistakes that some doctors do make. I have seen that happen a couple of times!! And if you ever have a question if two medications might have side effects together, never hesitate to talk to a pharmacist.

I'm upset with one news team saying there was a trace or drugs found on the $20.00 bill. They need to get there story straight. There was no trace of any sort of drug on the bill. Reporters now a days have nothing better to do than to make up all sort of bullshit, especially when it comes to actors. He hasn't even been gone all that long and they have no respect for his family or friends for that matter. They even had the nerve to go to his own parents home to do an interview. Give his family and friends time to morn the loss of a loved one. Show some respect for once in your life. To answer the question he has a 2yr. old little girl. Like another fan said he liked his privacy and tried to stay out of the public eye. So give his family and the respect that you would want if you were in this situation.

I grew up watching and admiring Heath Ledger, he was a very talented and unique person, and was unlike most actors out there. I give my sympathy to the family for their loss, but also celebrate his life and all he has accomplished!

AS MUCH TECHNOLOGY AS WE HAVE TODAY i DON NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A UNIFORM DRUG SYSTEM TO TRACK WHAT A PERSON IS PERSCRIBED TO #1 TRACK WHAT A PERSON GETS, #2 IN CASE A PERSON HAS MULTIPLE PHYSICIANS . THIS WOULD HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTS LIKE THIS. I KNOW WITH KAISER IF ANOTHER DOCTOR ORDERS A MEDICATION AUTOMATICALLY IT IS FLAGGED IF IT DOES NOT COMBINE WITH A MED ANOTHER PHYSICIAN ORDERED. AS I STATED IF THERE WAS A UNIFORM TECHNOLIGY THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

While studying overseas, one day while traveling from one city to the next via bus, I decided to take my back pain medication because sitting for so long started to really bother me--I had prescribed Tylenol with Codeine for lower back pains from my GP. However, I had forgotten that earlier in the day I had taken my daily allergy medication prescribed by my allergist. It became such a habit to take. It was like eating breakfast. So there I had two medications that later I found out could be lethal if taken together. Several hours later at a rest stop, I mistakenly agreed to have a beer with one of the passengers. Since drinking beer in European countries is like drinking water, I didn't think about it until after I already drank half a glass of beer. I stopped as soon as I remembered I had taken my meds. But by the time I reached my destination, I began having a difficult time breathing. In addition to the medication mix, the bus had actually caught fire at some point and we had to evacutate the bus. It was a nightmare excursion. At some point, I just assumed that my breathing difficulties were from the bus smoke, but in fact, it wasn't. There really hadn't been that much smoke exposure, and well, I felt woosy and lightheaded. When I reached my apartment, I had all to do to force myself to breathe. At one point, I thought this was the end for me. I had to actually make myself force the air in my lungs by making my abdomen move. Instead of calling an ambulance, I just sat there in my bedroom with my mind in a bubble. I was unable to actually make the call. I thought to do it, but I couldn't make myself do it. I felt somewhat paralyzed. I was afraid to try anything different. Hours passed by and eventually I felt in control. I eventually fell asleep. The thing is, what if I had fallen asleep much earlier? I may never have awakened. All I had was 1 allergy pill, 1 tylenol w/codeine, and a half glass of beer within a 15 hr time frame. Now I say, do not mix meds without thinking clearly. All medications have different affect from one individual to the next, the range of dosages, consumption of different food/beverage, the state in which the individual's body is --all these things should be taken into account on how a drug/medication can affect someone. Most people don't realize how potentially dangerous prescribed meds can be.

As for Heath Ledger, I'm saddened that what happened to him was most likely preventable. As I've heard, he was a honest, decent, and goodhearted person, which is sometimes hard to find these days, especially with movie star celebrities. It's a shame that this unfortunate event ended up taking his life. It's awful and heartbreaking. It's disturbing that others out there can guzzle down toxic levels of illegal drugs and alcohol and somehow survive barely unscathed. Somewhat unfair, I'd say.

john gibson old idiot big nose you have no room to talk about people that passed or make fun of there achivements yours are less

I cannot believe the number of people here rushing to the conclusion that Ledger overdosed using "recreational drugs." The man was on sleeping meds and anti-anxiety drugs. They did NOT find cocaine on the $20 bill. I have panic disorder and sleep apnea and have long been on drugs for both chonic illnesses. You don't take Ambien if you want to get high! SSRI's do not make you high. Furthermore, until the Medical Examiner's report becomes available, there is no evidence he had all six of these drugs in his bloodstream. Let's remember, he had prescriptions for all of them. That wasn't the case for, say, Anna Nicole Smith. It's very possible that he was seeing a physician and trying to get the "right" combination of a sleep aid and an anti-depressant. As pointed out, this is a tricky combination and one can have all sorts of side effects. Everybody's system is different and sometimes that patient (working with a good doctor) needs to try a few combinations before they find an effective one. I probably have ten anti-anxiety drugs in my living space of these I've tried -- I'm not very good at cleaning out the medicine cabinet. So let's give Heath a break here before we start labeling him a dope head. Wait until the M.E. report comes out, then we will know.

I don't think this was intentional and I don't even believe he definately "abused" these drugs. All of these depress resperation. They also found an antihistamine. The housekeeper said she heard him snoring. I have to wonder if he had a severe cold/sinus infection and that in combination with these medicines that depress respirations caused him to stop breathing. I have no idea of course, just a theory I wouldn't be surprised to see on the six oclock news. Regardless of the hows and whys, Heath Ledger was a great actor, one I will personally miss. I think we are too quick to assume everyone from hollywood is an addict. To have this idea that because they are on our tv screen they must abuse drugs is absurd. There are still tragic accidents in life that don't involve drug abuse and I think this is one of them.

yes but if one med is not working a doctor could prescribe a different one. If he did not throw away the first (or second...) he could potentially have several different types in his home at one time. How many of us get prescriptions, don't use them all, and then keep them for later needs? I have several types of prescriptions in my medicine cabinet currently, all were legally prescribed and none are current prescriptions!

This is a very unfortunate accident that a lot of people are not aware just what drugs do to your body (perscribed drugs). I think people need to learn from others like Heath and Anna Nicole Smith along with a number of other celebrities that have passed because of prescription medication.
Let's Honor and Remember Heath Ledger for how he lived, his contributions to life and his family and friends. Let's move on from the cause and begin the mourning.