Actress Brittany Murphy dies

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by LXA SE285

Except for the hydrocodone and maybe the Klonopin and Ativan, none of those drugs individually is dangerous/abusable—she was reportedly sick with the flu, which is probably what the Biaxin and Prednisone were for—but considering her weakened state, I could see how all these combined could make for a deadly cocktail.

Uh...hydrocodone and vicoprofen are both narcotics. Klonopin and Ativan are both benzos and can cause respiratory depression. Topamax has lots of side effects as does Carbamazapine, which is also a seizure medication. Biaxin and Prednisone would not have been prescribed for the flu, BTW. Anyway, this drug list is not for the faint of heart.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Uh...hydrocodone and vicoprofen are both narcotics. Klonopin and Ativan are both benzos and can cause respiratory depression. Topamax has lots of side effects as does Carbamazapine, which is also a seizure medication. Biaxin and Prednisone would not have been prescribed for the flu, BTW. Anyway, this drug list is not for the faint of heart.

Vicoprofen and hydrocodone are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing - there's really no need to separate them (Vicoprofen is a commercial implementation combining hydrocodone with ibuprofen). That kind of makes the list awkward to read at face value.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Vicoprofen and hydrocodone are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing - there's really no need to separate them (Vicoprofen is a commercial implementation combining hydrocodone with ibuprofen). That kind of makes the list awkward to read at face value.

Actually, I would separate them considering that she would likely have two different physicians prescribing this to her. This makes me wonder if she was abusing prescription drugs.

Anyway, I know very few physicians that use vicoprofen on a common basis. The only time I ever wrote for it was when a crystal meth addict asked for it during follow up visits in the burn unit after he and two of his buddies blew up their lab three days before Christmas when i was a second year surgery resident. He even knew the dosage that he wanted. Nothing says drug addict like someone who knows an obscure drug's dosage!

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Actually, I would separate them considering that she would likely have two different physicians prescribing this to her. This makes me wonder if she was abusing prescription drugs.

Well, I was getting at two things:

1 - Hydrocodone isn't legal to be sold by itself, as far as I know - it's always with another medication, generally an analgesic, right? So either it was illegally obtained (jiving with abuse), or it's redundant with the commercial name of the prescribed med.

2 - Whether the person compiling the list knew one contained the other or not, it kind of looks like an attempt to make the list longer - like the author wrote "she had cola, chips, and Pepsi!" Given tabloid credibility and the "what this looks like" factor, this seems relevant.

Anyway, I know very few physicians that use vicoprofen on a common basis. The only time I ever wrote for it was when a crystal meth addict asked for it during follow up visits in the burn unit after he and two of his buddies blew up their lab three days before Christmas when i was a second year surgery resident. He even knew the dosage that he wanted. Nothing says drug addict like someone who knows an obscure drug's dosage!

Ha - that's absolutely awesome.

I was prescribed Vicoprofen along with a muscle relaxant for a bad pinched nerve in 2001, and even then the pharmacist acted like it was an odd one.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Well, I was getting at two things:

1 - Hydrocodone isn't legal to be sold by itself, as far as I know - it's always with another medication, generally an analgesic, right? So either it was illegally obtained (jiving with abuse), or it's redundant with the commercial name of the prescribed med.

Triple post!

Anyway, I have had hydrocodone (Vicodin) prescribed to me a few times, and I don't recall ever getting anything with it. I know the last time I got it, from the ER, there were no other drugs given to me. It's perfectly legal and frequently prescribed.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Triple post!

Anyway, I have had hydrocodone (Vicodin) prescribed to me a few times, and I don't recall ever getting anything with it. I know the last time I got it, from the ER, there were no other drugs given to me.

Actually, you did. Vicodin is a combo drug--hydrocodone AND acetaminophine together.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Actually, you did. Vicodin is a combo drug--hydrocodone AND acetaminophine together.

Oh that's right. Well, I've had hydrocodone specifically prescribed to me, too. Still wasn't given with anything.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Well, I was getting at two things:

1 - Hydrocodone isn't legal to be sold by itself, as far as I know - it's always with another medication, generally an analgesic, right? So either it was illegally obtained (jiving with abuse), or it's redundant with the commercial name of the prescribed med.

2 - Whether the person compiling the list knew one contained the other or not, it kind of looks like an attempt to make the list longer - like the author wrote "she had cola, chips, and Pepsi!" Given tabloid credibility and the "what this looks like" factor, this seems relevant.

More likely, since these are really old drugs they are usually filled as generics and are thus labeled as hydrocodone Xmg/ acetominophin Xmg on the label. They probably just stopped after the hydrocodone when reporting the medication. Vicoprofen, I believe, doesn't come as a generic and would be labeled as Vicoprofen.

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Ha - that's absolutely awesome.

I was prescribed Vicoprofen along with a muscle relaxant for a bad pinched nerve in 2001, and even then the pharmacist acted like it was an odd one.

I can see why they would choose to use Vicoprofen, the ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory properties that would be helpful, it's just not a commonly used or commonly known medication. (Another reason why it would be a red flag to have a patient ask for it by name!)

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

It is possible that this list also includes medications for her husband, not just her. They were removed from the bedroom (or master suite, I'm guessing), which is a shared space.

Of course, but we all know that having another persons name on a prescription has never stopped people from taking drugs. Anyone remember Anna Nicole? That being said, these medications could ALL belong to her husband and have NOTHING to do with her death, but they sure are suspicious!

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Anyway, I have had hydrocodone (Vicodin) prescribed to me a few times, and I don't recall ever getting anything with it. I know the last time I got it, from the ER, there were no other drugs given to me. It's perfectly legal and frequently prescribed.

You're thinking of Codeine. It's most commonly given to kids because it's hard to regulate the Tylenol dose which can be toxic to the liver. A lot of people claim to be "allergic" to Codeine because it causes nausea as a side effect.

[pbear19]

I've got hydrocodone in the house now, from a torn ligament in my elbow. It was the only drug prescribed to me by my sports medicine doc, and it very clearly says hydrocodone on the label. He did recommend that I take some OTC ibuprofen, but nothing other than hydrocodone was prescribed. FWIW.

(I have a nice little collection of bottles in the house between past injuries from my husband and I. We don't have kids and I just never get around to throwing away the old drugs. I can only imagine how "suspicious" my list of drugs would be if it were released to the media. Especially if it were released like this, with no dates, no names, no indication of last refill or how full the bottle is, etc.)

[sceniczip]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Well, I was getting at two things:

1 - Hydrocodone isn't legal to be sold by itself, as far as I know - it's always with another medication, generally an analgesic, right? So either it was illegally obtained (jiving with abuse), or it's redundant with the commercial name of the prescribed med.

I've had hydrocodone prescribed just by itself. I'm pretty sure the label just said "hydrocodone" on it. I got it for a back injury thing I had going on (it was a mess, out of alignment, etc...)

[epchick]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Well, I was getting at two things:

1 - Hydrocodone isn't legal to be sold by itself, as far as I know - it's always with another medication, generally an analgesic, right? So either it was illegally obtained (jiving with abuse), or it's redundant with the commercial name of the prescribed med.

My dad was prescribed only Hydrocodone after he had his shoulder surgery. I know that for a fact b/c I put myself in charge of giving him his medicine after he refused to take it (it never helped him, the pain wouldn't go away not even in the slightest...supposedly)

[LXA SE285]

Uh...hydrocodone and vicoprofen are both narcotics. Klonopin and Ativan are both benzos and can cause respiratory depression.

Yeah, I knew that. I defer to you on the others.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Uh...hydrocodone and vicoprofen are both narcotics. Klonopin and Ativan are both benzos and can cause respiratory depression. Topamax has lots of side effects as does Carbamazapine, which is also a seizure medication. Biaxin and Prednisone would not have been prescribed for the flu, BTW. Anyway, this drug list is not for the faint of heart.

Actually, Biaxin when combined with certain antihstamines can be deadly. Right after it was first introduced, I was on a six-month antibiotic therapy (Biaxin) to kill a staph infection. I was told under no certain terms to take an antihistamine without the approval of my doctor. I had been taking Hisminal, and she told me that combining the two would likely put me into cardiac arrest.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Actually, Biaxin when combined with certain antihstamines can be deadly. Right after it was first introduced, I was on a six-month antibiotic therapy (Biaxin) to kill a staph infection. I was told under no certain terms to take an antihistamine without the approval of my doctor. I had been taking Hisminal, and she told me that combining the two would likely put me into cardiac arrest.

It was the Hisminal that was the problem...they took it off the market a long time ago. I personally liked Hisminal a lot! I thought it really worked for my allergic rhinitis Luckily I didn't have any flair ups of my acute cardiac arrest.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Uh...hydrocodone and vicoprofen are both narcotics. Klonopin and Ativan are both benzos and can cause respiratory depression. Topamax has lots of side effects as does Carbamazapine, which is also a seizure medication. Biaxin and Prednisone would not have been prescribed for the flu, BTW. Anyway, this drug list is not for the faint of heart.

It is possible that this list also includes medications for her husband, not just her. They were removed from the bedroom (or master suite, I'm guessing), which is a shared space.