Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Overdose: What You Need to Know
Tuesday June 30, 2009
High-profile celebrity deaths, such as Michael Jackson's and Heath Ledger's, put prescription drug overdose in the spotlight. But when you're trying to manage a chronic illness like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, you need to be aware of all the possible consequences of the medications you take.
- It's possible to overdose on any drug. Did you know that acetaminophen, the drug in Tylenol, is one of the most common drugs involved in overdoses? It can cause liver toxicity, as can over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflamatories like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). UPDATE: FDA panel recommends lowering maximum dosage of acetaminophen.
- Be aware of all the active ingredients in your meds. For example, many prescription opiates contain acetaminophen in addition to hydrocodone or oxycodone. That means it can be dangerous to take Vicodin or Percocet and Tylenol together.
- High doses of serotonin-affecting drugs (antidepressants) can lead to a fatal complication. It's called serotonin syndrome, and anyone on SSRI/SNRIs or tricyclic antidepressants needs to be familiar with the symptoms.
- Prolonged use of a drug can cause tolerance. If you find yourself needing higher doses for a drug to be effective, talk to your doctor about alternatives rather than putting yourself at risk for an overdose.
- Beware of drug classes. It's dangerous to combine drugs that are in the same class, and you should read labels and do your homework on every drug you take. For example, did you know that some OTC sleep meds are antihistamines? Combining them with your allergy medications could lead to overdose.
- Be familiar with possible interactions. Some drugs can be dangerous when they're taken together. Make sure you check for negative interactions between the things you're taking.
The above information applies to nutritional supplements as well -- when it comes to safety measures, you should consider everything you take a drug.
So where do you find all that information?
- Your doctor
- Your pharmacist (who probably knows a lot more about your drugs than your doctor)
- Drug packaging information & inserts (don't throw them out, and keep them someplace handy)
- Websites such as About.com's Drugs A-Z, drugs.com, and rxlist.com
Have you ever overdosed or had negative drug interactions? Have you found a good way to safely manage your medications? Let us all know about it by leaving a comment below!
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Comments
You did a great job with this entry, Adrienne. This is a bug-a-boo subject because so many people rely on prescription and OTC drugs to help relieve their pain from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But because of the fact that “nothing” often quite totally relieves the pain, they’re at risk for feeling desperate and taking too much medication (overdose?) — just trying to feel better. Thanks for your valuable contribution on this tough subject! Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
What people need to know is the difference between being dependant on a drug and being addicted. I am dependant on strong pain meds. I will go in to withdrawl if I suddenly stop taking them. I am not addicted. I never take more than what is prescribed and never crave more and more the way an addict does. People die and cause themselves real harm when they become addicted not when they are dependant.