Tag Archives: overdose

Home Medical Errors on the Rise

A research study from the University of California at San Diego found that the number of deaths resulting from medication mistakes at home has risen sharply over the last twenty years. Researchers looked at nearly fifty million American death certificates from the last twenty-five years. They found some interesting trends: Nearly a quarter of a million deaths were caused by medication errors, including overdoses, drug interactions, and mixing prescription drugs with alcohol or recreational drugs. There were 1132 deaths from medication mistakes at home in 1983. Compare that to more than twelve thousand deaths from medication mistakes in 2004 and … Continue reading →

Celebrities and Sleeping Pills – Part Two

Earlier I had written about celebrities that had tried to take their life with sleeping pills. Fortunately, they were saved and many went on to live long lives. However, there are a sad few who tried to kill themselves with sleeping pills and succeeded. Here is that list: The name Clara Blandick may not be familiar at first, but will probably remember her as playing Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz. Clara began acting in 1901 and retired in 1969. Her health had began failing in the 1950’s, when she began to lose her eyesight and suffered from severe … Continue reading →

Muscle Soreness Leads to Death

Have you ever used Icy Hot, Ben Gay or Tiger Balm? These are liniments we typically use to treat muscle soreness and muscle cramps. In a report from the Associated Press, a young, seventeen-year-old woman named Arielle Newman died from an overdose of methyl salicylate. That’s an ingredient found in these medicinal liniments. She put the cream on her legs using long adhesive pads because she was sore. Newman ran high school track. Her muscle aches and pains were just a part of the training regimen that she engaged in to keep herself fit and in peak condition. The New … Continue reading →

Children Are At Risk For Deadly ‘Tylenol’ Overdose

Tylenol (known generically as Acetaminophen) is important when a child has a headache, fever, toothache or muscle injury. It eases pain and allows a child to get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, Tylenol is also a powerful toxin. Too much Tylenol can kill a child. We have all heard the warning and advice to give children Tylenol instead of aspirin to avoid Reyes Syndrome. Many people stopped giving their children anything except Tylenol or acetaminophen. Many think if a drug is sold over the counter without a prescription, it has to be safe, yet the Institute for Safe Medication Practices … Continue reading →