Medications and Alcohol Don't Mix
If you’re taking any medications—either those prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter cold and allergy medicine—it’s not a good idea to drink alcohol. Often, the medication label will warn you not to—because of the possible dangerous side effects. Read the label! You’ll find lots of good info, like:
The medication’s active ingredients, including ingredient amounts in each dose
The medication’s purpose and uses
Dosage instructions—when and how to take it
Specific warnings about interactions (with alcohol and other drugs)
Activities to avoid
The medication’s inactive ingredients (important to hel...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - November 27, 2012 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
Prescription Drugs on TV
You’ve probably seen television commercials advertising prescription drugs for any number of things—from fibromyalgia (fi-bro-my-al-ja) to depression. Usually these ads end with an announcer running through a long list of dangerous side effects and warnings so fast that viewers can’t possibly get all of them, even when they include death.
Did you know that the United States and New Zealand are the only countries in the world that allow prescription drug companies to market medications directly to the public?
Some drug companies even use celebrity spokespersons, such as pro golfer Phil Mickelson who appears in a comme...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - October 18, 2011 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
Word of the Day: Depressants
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “depressants?” Maybe “depressed” or “sad?” But the drugs called depressants aren’t called that because they’re depressing in the emotional sense.
Depressants slow down (or “depress”) the normal activity that goes on in the brain. Alcohol is a depressant.
Doctors often prescribe central nervous system (CNS) depressants to patients who are anxious or can’t sleep. When used as directed, CNS depressants are safe and helpful for people who need them.
Types of CNS Depressants
CNS depressants can be divided into three main groups:
Barbiturates, wh...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - February 1, 2011 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
Eminem and Elton John
Musician Elton John recently said he’s been helping rapper pal Eminem work through his problems with substance abuse.
Eminem (aka Slim Shady and, before that, Marshall Mathers from Detroit, MI), was in treatment for substance abuse in 2005. Since then, he has abused prescription drugs like Vicodin, Ambien, and Valium. Some bad things happened after 2005, and maybe that led him to start abusing drugs again. In December 2007, he was devastated when his marriage ended and his closest friend and fellow rapper DeShaun “Proof” Holton died. Eminem was even hospitalized for overdosing on methadone. Then in early 2008, he...
Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - February 19, 2010 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs
