Heath Ledger Dies of Rx Cocktail – Includes Alprazolam (Xanax and Niravam) and Doxylamine (Valium)

Heath Ledger, star of “Brokeback Mountain”, died February 2008 of a prescription cocktail of anti-anxiety medications, pain killers and an antihistamine. ABC News states, “According to the medical examiner’s office, Ledger took “prescribed therapeutic doses … or less” of each medication he ingested…” The cocktail consisted of:

Oxycodone – Pain Medication
Hydrocodone – Pain Medication
Diazepam (Valium) – Anti-Anxiety Medication
Alprazolam (Xanax and Niravam) – Anti-Anxiety Medication
Doxylamine – Antihistamine

Heath is just another product of this country’s psychiatric medication failures. When one is on such drugs one cannot think straight enough to judge what they should or should not take. As such, Heath ingested medications together that were lethal. When will we learn that anti-anxiety medications and the like are not the answer. There are so many alternatives out there. People just have to look. If a life means anything to anyone, we need to stop putting these toxic medication into our bodies. Why does our government even allow it?

Below you will find the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of the anti-anxiety medications, links to watch the FOX NEWS video on Ledger and at home program for tapering off Alprazolam (Xanax and Niravam) and Doxylamine (Valium).

VALIUM – (Diazepam, Apzepam, Stesolid, Vival, Valaxona, Apozepam, Hexalid)

Valium Side Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms

VALIUM is a benzodiazepine derivative drug that is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, and has been one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the world for the past 40 years. VALIUM possesses anticonvulsant, sedative, skeletal muscle relaxant and amnestic (memory disturbance) properties. VALIUM also alters the sleep architecture by reducing the amounts of restorative Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and increasing the non-restorative sleep patterns. This can result in daytime drowsiness and poor cognitive function. VALIUM also depresses the tone of respiratory muscles, leading to sleep apnea.

Like all benzodiazepines, VALIUM can cause physical dependence. In a clinical study that appeared in the Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 100% of patients on low dose VALIUM therapy became addicted to their medication. Therefore, anyone taking Valium should discontinue through slow and gradual dose reduction.

VALIUM depletes the body of essential vitamins, minerals, Melatonin and Glutathione (the body’s master antioxidant). Melatonin is critical for normal sleep patterns and Glutathione is essential for a healthy immune system and the detoxification process. Low Glutathione levels are associated with immune and liver dysfunction, cardiac disease and premature aging. Benzodiazepines deplete approximately 50% of the Glutathione from the white blood cells within five hours. White blood cells defend our body from infection and foreign material. This may explain why prolonged use of benzodiazepines can severely compromise our health. Dr. Jimmy Gutman describes Glutathione as “Food for the Immune System.” Replenishing the body of critical Glutathione levels not only helps to improve immune function, but also allows the body to detoxify naturally.

XANAX – (Alprazolam, Niravam)

side effects and withdrawal symptoms

XANAX is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class of medications and is one of the most prescribed medications in the world today. XANAX reaches it peak level in the body within 1-2 hours. This short half-life may also contribute to possible episodes of breakthrough anxiety as the body reaches tolerance to the drug.

XANAX also alters the sleep architecture by reducing the amounts of restorative Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and increasing the non-restorative sleep patterns. This can result in daytime drowsiness and poor cognitive function. XANAX can also depress the tone of respiratory muscles, which may lead to sleep apnea.

In a United States physician survey, 84% of doctors reported XANAX as being extremely problematic in terms of the severity and prolonged nature of the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome after discontinuation. Therefore discontinuation of XANAX should be done so in a slow and gradual dose reduction.

XANAX, like all drugs, depletes the body of essential vitamins, minerals, melatonin and glutathione (the body’s master antioxidant). Melatonin is critical for normal sleep patterns and glutathione is essential for a healthy immune system and the detoxification process. Low glutathione levels are associated with immune and liver dysfunction, cardiac disease and premature aging. Benzodiazepines deplete approximately 50% of the glutathione from the white blood cells within five hours, and these cells defend our body from infection and foreign material. This may explain why prolonged use of benzodiazepines can severely compromise our health. Dr. Jimmy Gutman describes Glutathione as “Food for the Immune System.” Replenishing the body of critical Glutathione levels not only helps to improve immune function, but also allows the body to detoxify naturally.

See FOX NEWS video about Ledger at http://www.pointofreturn.com/home.html

The above drug side effects and withdrawal symptoms provided by The Point of Return, as seen on FOX News, (at home withdrawal program) which can be found at http://www.thepointofreturn.com

You may also read a free book online “How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely” at http://www.theroadback.org/workbook.htm

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