|
Health 52
Info Tip:
Dangerous Drug Combinations
Whether prescription or over-the-counter, mixed medications can have serious
adverse effects on your health, even causing unintentional fatal poisoning
in some cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that accidental
poisonings from prescription drugs are on the rise, especially among
middle-aged adults.
Mixed prescription overdoses are becoming more common as well. That’s
because people don’t take the time to find out if their medications interact
with each other, and people underestimate the impact that alcohol has when
combined with certain medications.
For example, a person taking prescribed narcotic painkillers and sleeping
pills may put themselves in serious jeopardy if they add an alcoholic drink
to this mix.
To play it safe, read the warning labels on your medications and tell your
doctor and pharmacist about every medication and supplement you take,
including over-the-counter remedies and herbal formulas.
Never take a medication that was prescribed for another person. And review
the dosages of your routine medications periodically with your doctor.
Changes in liver and kidney function that come with aging and weight loss
can affect the way the body metabolizes medication.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Greenwich Hospital,
National Institutes of Health, Hartford Courant
|
