HEATH LEDGER – THE MAN WHO FELL ON HIS TABLETS AND DIED?

“Accidental Death” – that’s an intriguing choice of words to describe how the life of another highly talented, hugely successful, and overtly admired, rich and famous person ended. The words I would choose are “negligent death”

Either Heath was negligent for taking such an obviously dangerous mix of strong medications without any knowledge of the possible interactions and outcome; OR, negligent on the part of his health care providers for being responsible, or irresponsible, for him being in possession of such a lethal mix of drugs. This man should not be dead yet.

Let’s take a look at what this guy put into his mouth: In simple terms he took a mix of painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medications…

1) Oxycodone (OxyContin) – Narcotic pain killer – Usually prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Should not be combined with alcohol, other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing.

2) Hydrocodone (eg Vicodin) – Narcotic pain killer – Has an analgesic potency similar to or greater than that of oral morphine. Hydrocodone may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including alcohol, antihistamines, pain relievers, and anxiety medicines: Dangerous sedation, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur if hydrocodone is taken with any of these medications.

3) Diazepam (Valium) – Anti-anxiety pill – In a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. Diazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms. Before taking diazepam, tell your doctor if you take any other seizure medications, or if you are using any of the following drugs: narcotic medications such as hydrocodone, oxycodone.

4) Alprazolam – Anti-anxiety pill - Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: medicine for sleep, narcotic pain relievers, antihistamines.

5) Temazepam (Xanax) – Sleeping tablet – Is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines: Used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling or staying asleep.

6) Doxylamine – Sleeping tablet – Doxylamine is an antihistamine: Used for treating occasional sleeplessness and difficulty falling asleep.

Now if we summarise – that’s two types of narcotic pain killers (similar to morphine), three benzodiazepines, and one antihistamine – none of which should be mixed with the other!

These aren’t just over the counter Paracetamol and St John’s Wort tablets we are talking about – Each one individually cold take someone’s life if taken in the wrong amounts.

I’ll be honest – I’m perplexed as to how bad Heath must have told his MDs that he was feeling for them to be swayed to prescribe some if not all of these meds? “Hey doc I’m having trouble sleeping and my mind is racing.” “Well, how about I give you some Hydrocodone – it’s as strong as Morphine.” What the…?

"Accidental death": What happened - did he walk into his bedroom, trip over and land on the bottles which knocked them down his throat? Let's be brutally honest, this guy sat with a glass of water (and hopefuly not a glass of scotch which would make the mix even more lethal) and swallowed at least six heavy duty tablets in a short space of time.

So what happens that these celebrities seem to have much more leathal tablets in their bathroom cabinet than the rest of us?

1. Do they get given stronger pills because they are more important than the rest of us? "I'm a very important person, I've gotta be filming on the set tommorrow - you'd better give me the best pills you've got". Do MDs bow to this kind of customer pressure and prescribe stronger than normal meds?
2. Do MDs get "star struck" and give "wonder drugs" that they would not normally prescribe. "I'd better give this famous person the best stuff, then they might think I'm the best doc in town - and I might become the "doctor of the stars"."
3. Do the pills not work very well, so the patient "doctor shops", getting a stonger and more potent med each time, while collecting the half-empty bottles, which in a moment of weakness, suffering or pain - the patient decides "maybe if I take one of each - one of them's gotta do the job".
4. Do we have a well-concealed celebrity pack of prescription drug addicts (until they blow up in car parks, A-list parties or are found dead in their bedroom)? Five of the six drugs above are well-known addictive substances, often used by pill abusers, and often combined for maximum relief.
5. Do we have a medical system that lacks fail-safe precautions? These are dangerous drugs - how hard would it be to have an online prescription registry where a patient gets listed when prescribed this strength of med? Then if a person visits another MD they can cross-check the history before signing off on yet another bottle.