Deadly Combo?

How quickly do they take effect?
The effects can be seen in 15 to 30 minutes in someone who doesn't have any food in their stomach.

How quickly would they become lethal if taken in the wrong quantities?
Within an hour would not be a surprise. You just go to sleep and don't wake up. Your respiratory system gets so depressed that pretty soon there's not enough oxygen in the blood and the heart stops.

Would one doctor prescribe all these to one patient?
Generally speaking, no. There's so much overlap in these drugs that it would not be appropriate for somebody to be giving all these drugs to the same patient at the same time.

How would these medications interact with illegal drugs, such as cocaine?
Cocaine is a stimulant. While it has its own set of adverse reactions, such as high blood pressure, I wouldn't consider any of these other drugs to interact with the cocaine. If he were taking a narcotic, an opiate of some sort—methadone, heroin—that would be another added compound that could depress his respiratory center. Cocaine is not one I would consider interacting with those other drugs.

It wouldn't make them more lethal?
It would potentially put more strain on his heart. You can have arrhythmias and bleeds, and all sorts of nasty things could happen.

With reporting by Peg Tyre

© 2008