Health Ledger's Death Caused by Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

[Guest guest]

several links here - go to url to access them.

Health Ledger's Death Caused by Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

_http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-caused-by-p

ain-killers-sleep-meds.htm_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-caused-by-pai\

n-killers-sleep-meds.htm)

 

 

As I first read about what caused actor Health Ledger's death, now ruled an

accidental overdose, I stared in absolute horror at the combination of drugs

in his system: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, emazepam, alprazolam and

doxylamine. The medical examiner released those generic names - you might know

them better as _Percocet_ (http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/percocet.htm) ,

_Vicodin_ (http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/vicodin.htm) , _Valium_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/valium.htm) , _Xanax_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/xanax.htm) , _Restoril_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/restoril.htm)

and _Unisom_ (http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/unisom-sleeptabs.htm) . My

first, and admittedly not-very-sympathetic thought was, " Who takes six

different

painkillers and sleep aids at the same time? "

Then I read farther. At the end of the article was a quote from a Novemeber

interview in the New York Times. " Last week I probably slept an average of two

hours a night, " Ledger had said. " My body was exhausted, and my mind was

still going. " Also in that interview, he said he'd taken 2 _Ambien_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/ambien.htm) pills one night and still only

got an hour

of sleep.

At that point, I chastised myself for my judgment moments earlier. He

couldn't sleep. The Vicodin and Percocet suggest pain, and possibly a lot of it.

He

also had just returned from London where he'd shot the third in a string of

movies and had said his roles in two of them had been disturbing to him.

Suddenly, I got it. I've been severely sleep deprived enough times to know

the desperation that comes with it. I also know we're not always rational in

that state. I realized that any of us in his position may have done the same

thing, praying for rest, taking everything that might help. In his case, he had

too many things at his disposal at the wrong moment. And it killed him.

My heart breaks for Ledger, his family, and everyone who cared about him. It

also breaks for all of us with medical conditions that put us in exactly his

position all too often. Be careful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

The problem with sleep meds is that eventually they stop working and you

might have to switch to another type. Of course, some people try to add

to the mixture. For instance, I find that taking a Benadryl with an

Ambien helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. I don't know how long this

combination will last, and I certainly won't increase either the number

of Benadryl I take or the number of Ambien. But, lack of sleep does

make you do things that may seem reckless.

Joy

________________________________

 

 

On Behalf Of

surpriseshan2

Monday, February 11, 2008 5:24 PM

MCS-Canada

Health Ledger's Death Caused by

Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

 

 

 

several links here - go to url to access them.

Health Ledger's Death Caused by Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

 

_http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-p

<http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-p>

ain-killers-sleep-meds.htm_

 

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-pain-killers-sleep-meds.htm

<http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-pain-killers-sleep-meds.htm> )

 

 

As I first read about what caused actor Health Ledger's death,

now ruled an

accidental overdose, I stared in absolute horror at the

combination of drugs

in his system: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, emazepam,

alprazolam and

doxylamine. The medical examiner released those generic names -

you might know

them better as _Percocet_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/percocet.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/percocet.htm> ) ,

_Vicodin_ (http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/vicodin.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/vicodin.htm> ) , _Valium_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/valium.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/valium.htm> ) , _Xanax_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/xanax.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/xanax.htm> ) , _Restoril_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/restoril.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/restoril.htm> )

and _Unisom_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/unisom-sleeptabs.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/unisom-sleeptabs.htm> ) . My

first, and admittedly not-very-sympathetic thought was, " Who

takes six different

painkillers and sleep aids at the same time? "

Then I read farther. At the end of the article was a quote from

a Novemeber

interview in the New York Times. " Last week I probably slept an

average of two

hours a night, " Ledger had said. " My body was exhausted, and my

mind was

still going. " Also in that interview, he said he'd taken 2

_Ambien_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/ambien.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/ambien.htm> ) pills one night and

still only got an hour

of sleep.

At that point, I chastised myself for my judgment moments

earlier. He

couldn't sleep. The Vicodin and Percocet suggest pain, and

possibly a lot of it. He

also had just returned from London where he'd shot the third in

a string of

movies and had said his roles in two of them had been disturbing

to him.

Suddenly, I got it. I've been severely sleep deprived enough

times to know

the desperation that comes with it. I also know we're not always

rational in

that state. I realized that any of us in his position may have

done the same

thing, praying for rest, taking everything that might help. In

his case, he had

too many things at his disposal at the wrong moment. And it

killed him.

My heart breaks for Ledger, his family, and everyone who cared

about him. It

also breaks for all of us with medical conditions that put us in

exactly his

position all too often. Be careful.

 

[Guest guest]

I don't use prescription drugs at all unless it is absolutely necessary to

use an antibiotic of some sort. I use Chamolmile, Passionflower and

Valerian root mixture..I take it an hour before bedtime and I sleep very

well, I've been using that for about 6 months now and it still works well

for me. I am studying to become a Certified Master Herbalist and an HHP

(Holistic Health Practitioner, board certified).

 

 

 

Another herb that is very good for stress and anxiety is Scullcap either in

capsule form or tea form..I prefer teas =). I purchase all my teas and

herbal supplements from www.evitamins.com

 

 

 

 

 

Namaste,

 

Christine - NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Behalf Of Cain, Joy

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:17 PM

 

RE: Health Ledger's Death Caused by

Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

 

 

 

The problem with sleep meds is that eventually they stop working and you

might have to switch to another type. Of course, some people try to add

to the mixture. For instance, I find that taking a Benadryl with an

Ambien helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. I don't know how long this

combination will last, and I certainly won't increase either the number

of Benadryl I take or the number of Ambien. But, lack of sleep does

make you do things that may seem reckless.

Joy

________________________________

 

 

<%40>

[

<%40> ] On Behalf Of

surpriseshan2 <surpriseshan2%40aol.com>

Monday, February 11, 2008 5:24 PM

MCS-Canada <MCS-Canada%40>

Health Ledger's Death Caused by

Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

 

several links here - go to url to access them.

Health Ledger's Death Caused by Pain Killers, Sleep Meds

 

_http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-p

<http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-p>

ain-killers-sleep-meds.htm_

 

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-pain-killers-sleep-meds.htm

<http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/06/health-ledgers-death-cause

d-by-pain-killers-sleep-meds.htm> )

 

 

As I first read about what caused actor Health Ledger's death,

now ruled an

accidental overdose, I stared in absolute horror at the

combination of drugs

in his system: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, emazepam,

alprazolam and

doxylamine. The medical examiner released those generic names -

you might know

them better as _Percocet_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/percocet.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/percocet.htm> ) ,

_Vicodin_ (http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/vicodin.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/vicodin.htm> ) , _Valium_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/valium.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/valium.htm> ) , _Xanax_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/xanax.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/xanax.htm> ) , _Restoril_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/restoril.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/restoril.htm> )

and _Unisom_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/unisom-sleeptabs.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/unisom-sleeptabs.htm> ) . My

first, and admittedly not-very-sympathetic thought was, " Who

takes six different

painkillers and sleep aids at the same time? "

Then I read farther. At the end of the article was a quote from

a Novemeber

interview in the New York Times. " Last week I probably slept an

average of two

hours a night, " Ledger had said. " My body was exhausted, and my

mind was

still going. " Also in that interview, he said he'd taken 2

_Ambien_

(http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/ambien.htm

<http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/ambien.htm> ) pills one night and

still only got an hour

of sleep.

At that point, I chastised myself for my judgment moments

earlier. He

couldn't sleep. The Vicodin and Percocet suggest pain, and

possibly a lot of it. He

also had just returned from London where he'd shot the third in

a string of

movies and had said his roles in two of them had been disturbing

to him.

Suddenly, I got it. I've been severely sleep deprived enough

times to know

the desperation that comes with it. I also know we're not always

rational in

that state. I realized that any of us in his position may have

done the same

thing, praying for rest, taking everything that might help. In

his case, he had

too many things at his disposal at the wrong moment. And it

killed him.

My heart breaks for Ledger, his family, and everyone who cared

about him. It

also breaks for all of us with medical conditions that put us in

exactly his

position all too often. Be careful.