Death of a Son

I was made aware of the recent Connor’s report on the death of Gerald Levert. I also heard the interview that Eddie Levert did with Tom Joyner and I was touch by the relationship that Eddie had with his son. It brought back memories. I want to say from the outset that this health information is written to make others aware of what can and will happen if caution is not taken when all kinds of medications are taken without proper instructions and precautions. I don’t know the details that certainly would be beneficial to this report, but it was reported that Gerald was taking Darvocet N 100, Vicodan, and Precocet. While these pain pills are legal they must be given and taken with extreme caution. It was reported that Gerald was taking these medications for a condition called Achilles tendonitis and was experiencing significant pain. (The Achilles tendon is found behind the ankle and is easily injured). Using pain pills of this kind is not usually the first drug of choice for this kind of injury. The Connor’s report said that Xanax was also present. Xanax is a medication taken for anxiety which Gerald was reported to have had. Xanax is also a second line drug for chronic anxiety. It was also reported that antihistamines were present. The primary side effect of antihistamines is sedation. In addition, the pathology report said he had pneumonia (an infection of the lungs) and an earlier report said that heart disease was also present. Gerald’s death was ruled accidental drug intoxication. This reminds me of the Elvis Presley death. There are some lessons to be learned from the above scenario. Never take three pain medications at the same time. These three pain medications all have the same major side effect of respiratory depression. Xanax also has respiratory depression as a major side effect. The above mention drugs should never be given together or taken together. It is the responsibility of the physician to make sure that side effects of drugs are given to patients and it also the responsibility of the patient to adhere to the physician’s recommendations. Finally it is also eye opening that pneumonia a lung disease was found. It is not unusual for some African Americans to treat themselves with over the counter medications as well as using herbal drugs for medical conditions that require the evaluation of a physician. It is my sincere prayer and hope that from this tragedy someone life will be saved after having better insight about the improper use of prescription and over the counter drugs. I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell closing the gap in health care.