Methadone Drug Addiction .com

And the patient has cyanosis, and is dianosed w/ respiratory failure w/ respiratory acidosis, has a sinus tachycardia (that will develop shortly into myocardial infarcation), is found to have DVT/peptic ulcer, leukocytosis, renal failure, hypoglycemia, elevated creatinine kinase (in the absence of seisure), elevated transaminases, and hyperkalemia. Is also found to have a thickening of the wall of the gall bladder w/out stones, normal liver, normal pancreas, and aorta in the diaphgram unremarkable, and even though this patient was found in resp. failure situation, they upon administration of narcon 2x (which only brought resp rate ujp to 88% w/ breathing range of 24), the blood pressure was 145/119 w/ pulse of 122, which had to be brought down consequently resulting in low bp which was treated and monitored. This patient was given DVT prophlaxis, intubated, is in renal failure w/ elevation of liver enzymes. The patient goes in and out of unconsciousness waking to trash and grimace and so is put on sedation. Lots more info. Patient in ICU over a week. Impressions by any medically knowledgable????
(thrash not 'trash')
the patient is kept in the ICU over a week, the above is how the patient is presented to Critical Care. Patient is considered critically ill.

You answered the question yourself, critical.

Because of the long half life of methadone, the patient should likely be or a narcan drip. I'd bet that a lot of problems are due to severe, prolonged hypoxia causing multi-organ failure. Prognosis is "grim".

2009-03-11 12:09:35 by heathersonline

A report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices lists several reasons for the serious and sometime fatal overdoses that have occurred ...

My dad died yesterday afternoon. I found him slumped over on his side, laying in bed. When I found him I tried to perform CPR (I'm a nursing student......I SHOULD know this). But instead I panicked and I know I didnt perform the procedure correctly. I know these moments were crucial and I know I failed him. But I digress...

He had been taking, to my knowledge, methadone/oxycontin/xanax/prozac...as far as I know. He suffered from COPD and emphysema (according to the coroner, "bolus emphysema" which I am not familiar with).. the coroner also told me that he had cor pulmonale (right sided heart failure?). My mother was not aware of this..neither was his doctor...nobody was. I suspected it because of various signs and symptoms I had learned about in nursing school. My mother told me that the doctor had just "checked his heart" and that she said his circulation etc was great.....but I just dont understand, if a person has advanced COPD it seems as if any issue with the lungs would probably be an issue with the heart as well?? At least I feel this way.

Anyways. The coroner told me the cause of death was "accidental drug overdose (related to the methadone and xanax", compounded by the bolus emphysema and cor pulmonale. After my unsuccessful attempt at CPR the paramedics came and took his body into the living room....his eyes were wide open....bright blue. The paramedics attempted a breathing tube (I think) and atropine. One paramedic suggested epi and the other refused; they were almost arguing. It seems as if the epi would have been most effective...as far as my limited knowledge is concerned. He went into V Fib at a point, then I heard a paramedic say "its asystole". I remember studying for tests and remembering it was the worst because "if your v fib your v f**ked"........so this was unsettling to hear and even more unsettling when I heard asystole. I know what that is. That means nada, nothing, gone.... I could tell he was in V fib looking at the EKG as they were placing tubes down his throat and IVs into his arm for the atropine. I knew he was dead because I was staring at the EKG the entire time almost and saw the progression into asystole. I looked at the paramedic and said, I know what that means....that means he is dead. To which they said "I cant answer that question ma'am...we'll do whatever we can".....

Because the coroner described his cause of death as "accidental overdose"...I really want to know exactly how this accidental overdose killed my father and how it relates to the cor pulmonale and the bolus emphysema...copd etc. Did the methadone and xanax cause his respirations to decrease, becoming nearly absent and THEN he went into v fib and ultimately asystole...or did the dysrhythmias cause him to stop breathing and then he died? Right when I found him I grabed my stethoscope and he had no heartbeat and his chest was not rising, no peripheral pulses either... could the proper administration of CPR by myself perhaps have saved his life? By the time I found him was he breathing and I simply made an error?

Basically as the old saying, the chicken or the egg....which came first, the vfib/asystole or the absence of breathing?

Is it strange to anyone else that his GP said only weeks ago his "heart was perfectly normal"?

Do you think maybe this wasnt methadone/xanax related (he was prescribed and had the most atrocious spinal problems you could ever imagine...his pain was great and the meds were taken as prescribed)......plus the coroner has not performed any blood tests..all he knows is that I told him my dad was prescribed to these medicines. Is he making a snap judgement?

Also, the days leading up to his death he was lethargic, disoriented, and in a stupor. He was acting strange...talking about his death.. when I found him he was covered in sweat. The bed was wet. When only moments before he had been fine.. could these preceding days have been a sign? He was saying strange things and would cry for no reason. He told me the night before he died that he would die soon... we got into a huge fight. I screamed at him a mere 20 minutes before I found him dead..the last thing I said to him was "I hate you. I cant wait to get out of this house so I never have to see you again. Your a miserable excuse for a human being".

God help me... I severely messed up.

Someone give me closure, please.

Do not feel bad......... Well it is true that he probably had a heart attack or maybe stroke.I knoW it sounds silly but I Want to be a doctor. What happened Was idk sorry.
You did not make an error.
Hoped i helped

2010-06-02 00:12:58 by HeyHeyHeyyyyy

Price: $5.95 $5.95

My boyfriend and I used heroin together (snorting it was the only route of administration we used) for a few months. At first, it was only once every other weekend. It did bother me a lot at first, because when it started, I didn't really like to use it. I talked to a few close friends and asked them what to do. I suggested giving him an ultimatum: "it's me or the dope", basically. However, I leared from my friends' advice and my own insights that he wouldn't quit just because of an ultimatum. It didn't really seem to be a problem until we started doing it more. It seemed that some if it seemed to be a coping mechanism for him to deal with the death of a close family member of his. That occurred two months ago. For about a month to six weeks, we used it about every other day. We both tried to quit, but found it difficult because of the painful withdrawal symptoms. I suggested methadone to him, to which he agreed to try. However, it was difficult to get to a clinic because of our obligations to work, school, etc. We decided that as soon as we had time off from school, we would do this together and get sober.
Earlier this past week, he called me to inform me that he admitted what was going on to his mother when she asked him about it. That morning, the three of us went to a substance abuse/mental health center. After talking with the staff, he and his mom decided not to use their facilities for detox due to its high price. So, he and I detoxed ourselves and neither of us has relapsed. It hasn't been a full week yet, but that is a big step because it happened when we attempted to quit previously.
Now, on the morning of the day we went to the clinic, I decided to "finish" the rest of my dope. I remember saying to them, "I don't have a problem" at the clinic. However, I later realized that I obviously had a problem if I was using just before going there. Later that day, I went to my boyfriend's house and he started to tell me that he didn't want to be with me because he didn't think that I was serious about getting clean. I understand where he was coming from. He also mentioned moving for a semester to another part of the country. Later that day (or maybe the next day), we reconciled and decided to stay together. I was happy because I figured that one of the good things to come out of our sobriety was the fact that we could actually be a real couple again, without a preoccupation with drugs. I was truly happy about it.
On Friday (today is Sunday), we were talking on the phone, for his parents aren't allowing anyone to come over or him to go anywhere, at least for a while. (His mom said that after the weekend, things may loosen up a little bit.) Anyway, I became emotionally upset due to the fact that I missed him so much, in combination with my withdrawal symptoms. We started to argue and he told me that it was much harder on him, etc. He said that he didn't want to be with me again. He said that he felt it was too much about drugs. I feel differently. Yes, they were part of our lives, but I know there ws MUCH more to our relationship than drugs. He also said something about moving again. I didn't talk to him too much on Friday or Saturday. When I did, I reiterated my feelings.
I personally feel that much of this is due to being overwhelmed. He has said things in the past that he didn't want to be with me, when he was stressed and over whelmed (after a fight sometimes), only to have us getting back together. Anyway, moving and cutting out the "enablers" seems like the ideal thing to do. But, his problems will still be here when gets back. I can understand taking a vacation, but not just leaving everything behind. Also, he is still remaining friends with other users. I do understand that right now, we both need to get better on work on our own personal recovery, but I don't think it has to involve end our relationship for good. Just knowing that we were still something gave me so much strength. Perhaps we can spend time apart, but I know that I want to still be with him. I do want to respect his wishes, but it's hard when you love someone like I love him. I just hope that he will start to realize that we were more than drugs.
How can I help him? Is it possible for us to stay/be together after this? Does it seem like he could be just saying this due to his initial resonse to "cut and run"?
I talked to him and we decided that we both need to work ourselves out first. He said we would still be friends and maybe see each other (he's "grounded" until idk when). We did talk about starting something in time. However, he said he didn't want to say one way or the other if we would, for you never know what may happen. We did say that really any and all relationships should be out of the question through this process. I think this is for the best for now. He also told a mutual friend that he still cares about me a lot, but it's just hard to be in a relationship when you have to worry about yourself. He told me that it wouldn't be fair to me, and he's right. It wouldn't be fair to either of us. He also attributed it to bad timing. However, I have a feeling that once he and I recover and stay clean, the rest will follow and things will fall back into place. Do you think they will?

Firstly, good luck with your recovery and well done. I'm glad you saw your problem and decided to fix it, many addicts don't ever get to the first part of that, you should be commended.

I believe that two recovering addicts can stay together, but it depends which two really. I'm not so sure about you and your boyfriend. From what you've said, it seems like maybe you will have to continue your recovery without him.

I understand that your relationship was about more than just the heroin, but that was to you, your view of the relationship. Your boyfriend is telling you straight out that to him your relationship was too much about the drugs. It seems you did not both get the same thing out of your relationship.

It's sad to see that but you seem like a really decent girl and sensible enough to know a one sided relationship would be really destructive for both of you.

Maybe, once you have both been clean for a while, things will change and you could try again with him. If you do that he may see the 'new' relationship the way you see things now, but as it stands, I would believe him when he tells you that to him it was too much about drugs and find the strength to let him go.

I hope you can continue with your healing and that you are doing it for you because doing it for anyone else will make it even harder and make you more likely to relapse. You have to be clean for yourself because you have a lot to offer the world as a sober person, and once your boyfriend realizes that, you might be able to have the type of relationship you see but have the same feelings on both sides of it.

Good luck, I wish you well and am sending lots of happy, positive thoughts your way.

Gx

2008-10-26 16:39:22 by AlienGirl

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John Holdren: Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (Science Czar). In 1973, he advocated a “de-development” of the U.S. so the country may be “in line with the realities . . . of the world’s resource situation.” He has also favored government mandated family sizes.


Gil Kerlikowski: Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (Drug Czar). As police chief in Seattle, he permitted methadone vans, free needle exchanges and medical marijuana, and made marijuana possession the lowest priority of law enforcement.


Gary Locke: Secretary of Commerce. During his tenure as governor of Washington, questions were raised regarding conflicts of interest arising from the state’s dealings with a company run by his brother-in-law — who was living in the executive mansion at the time.


Kathleen Merrigan: Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. She urges the creation and expansion of expensive federal programs to support organic farming — while acknowledging that there is no proof organic food is any better than conventionally grown food.


Mercedes Marquez: Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development. As general manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department, Marquez crusaded for affordable housing — but “much more affordable housing was lost in L.A. on Marquez’s watch then was built,” the release noted.


Karen Mills: Administrator of the Small Business Administration. An heir to the Tootsie Roll fortune, Mills has spearheaded ventures that have for the most part either failed or brought mediocre results to her investors. She has voiced support for legislation diverting small business contracts to venture capitalists.


Ron Sims: Deputy Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development. While Sims was the King County Executive in Washington State, his office “lied and refused to provide documents that it was legally required to provide” to an investigator probing a county deal, according to ALG. The county was fined $120,000.


William Spriggs: Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Labor. In April 2008, while the U.S. was in the grips of the recession, Spriggs co-authored a report calling for a substantial increase in the minimum wage.


Cass Sunstein: Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, White House Office of Management and Budget (Regulatory Czar). Sunstein supports the “Fairness Doctrine,” which would rein in conservative talk radio, and has suggested that animals might be given standing to sue in civil court.


Cathy Zoi: Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. She ran a group started by former Vice President Al Gore that ran TV ads asking viewers to demand that we “repower” America with 100 percent clean energy within 10 years.

None. They're all radical socialists.

Thanx for the 2 pts.

2009-12-17 08:17:00 by TAT