Jump to content
Please Check, and if Necessary, Update Your BB Account Email Address as a Matter of Urgency ×
New Forum: Celebrating 20 Years of Support - Everyone is Invited! ×
  • Please Donate

    Donate with PayPal button

    For nearly 20 years, BenzoBuddies has assisted thousands of people through benzodiazepine withdrawal. Help us reach and support more people in need. More about donations here.

Chris Cornell toxicology -significant dose of Ativan


[pr...]

Recommended Posts

i copied just a portion of what it said on yahoo.

 

 

The injuries sustained "were all consistent with hanging, partially suspended by the resistance exercise band."

 

Additionally, seven different drugs were found in Cornell's post mortem toxicology report, including a significant dose of the anxiety medicine Ativan. However, it is the medical examiner's opinion that "these drugs did not contribute to the cause of death."

 

The drugs found in Cornell's system were "butalbital, lorazepam, pseudoephedrine and its metabolite norpseudoephedrine, caffeine, and naloxone." The caffeine came from No-Doz tablets the singer ingested prior to his death, while the pseudoephedrine was employed as a decongestant.

 

Other prescription drugs included the sedative Butalbital, Narcan ("a narcotic antagonist") and four doses of Lorazepam, which is known as the anxiety medication Ativan.

 

The Cornell family has previously blamed the rare side effects of Ativan – which includes suicidal thoughts – for catalyzing the singer's death. However, the medical examiner noted that while the 200 ng/mL level of Ativan in Cornell's blood was well higher than the average 30-50 ng/mL dosage, it was also lower than the 300 ng/mL Ativan blood levels of those whose death are tied to the drug.

 

Following the release of the autopsy and toxicology report, Cornell's widow Vicki released a statement to Rolling Stone.

 

"Many of us who know Chris well noticed that he wasn't himself during his final hours and that something was very off. We have learned from this report that several substances were found in his system. After so many years of sobriety, this moment of terrible judgment seems to have completely impaired and altered his state of mind," Vicky Cornell wrote.

 

"Something clearly went terribly wrong and my children and I are heartbroken and are devastated that this moment can never be taken back. We very much appreciate all of the love we have received during this extremely difficult time and are dedicated to helping others in preventing this type of tragedy."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ac...]
The butalbital... A barbiturate. Used to treat headaches, contains aspirin and caffeine as well. Not only did he openly struggle with addiction, but depression. Certainly a barb and Ativan mixed could have impaired judgement. Add other items in, well..
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The butalbital... A barbiturate. Used to treat headaches, contains aspirin and caffeine as well. Not only did he openly struggle with addiction, but depression. Certainly a barb and Ativan mixed could have impaired judgement. Add other items in, well..

 

Yes, this scared me. Barbiturates are probably one of the most dangerous Rx drugs ever made. Why do they even still exist? These types of meds should have been left in the past, where they belong. Combining benzodiazepines with barbiturates is a total and complete recipe for disaster.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course we will never know if ativan caused or contributed to his death but I have to wonder if there is any consideration whatsoever to how the long term effects of these drugs could contribute to suicide. All of us here know that it isn't as simple as "he didn't take enough of the drug to cause his death" but it sounds like that's what they are saying.

 

Pretty convenient how easy it is for them to absolve these powerful psychoactive drugs of any role they might have played in incidents like this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I had committed suicide in the throes of post-withdrawal depression, an autopsy would have revealed absolutely no drugs in my system.  That wouldn't mean it wasn't a death attributable to Xanax.  But that's beyond the comprehension of these folks, who do not seem to believe what some of us are trying so hard to tell them.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ac...]
I have an even more perplexing question, why the Narcan (Nalxone, or however it's spelled)??? If no optics were in his system, then why was this? From my understanding it reverses opioid over doses, or reduces side effects that are dangerous, but doesn't "erase" taking them???
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised that there are doctors still writing scripts for barbiturates in situations like that, particularly in patients with past histories of substance abuse.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pumpkin--my guess is that the naloxone was a component of a new drug called Movantik, which is prescribed for opioid-induced constipation.  I've written some blog posts about a stupid pharmaceutical ad featuring a handsome construction foreman named Frank. ([nobbc]www.lindacrew.com[/nobbc])  AstroZeneca has attempted to normalize opioid addiction with these ads.  The most appalling part is that the side effect of the drug (which is an opioid agonist) is that you'll feel like you're in opioid withdrawal!  Duh!  If you're going to go through opioid withdrawal, why not end up with the reward of being drug free?  But oh, no, the pharmaceutical companies would much rather you stay hooked on TWO drugs and keep filling their coffers.

 

If Cornell was taking all these different drugs, it doesn't seem unlikely he'd have been trying to dose himself out of constipation, too.

 

Edit: Commercial link deactivated

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have an even more perplexing question, why the Narcan (Nalxone, or however it's spelled)??? If no optics were in his system, then why was this? From my understanding it reverses opioid over doses, or reduces side effects that are dangerous, but doesn't "erase" taking them???

 

 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-june-toxicology-results-in-chris-cornell-s-1496434177-htmlstory.html

 

In the article I've read about the toxicology reports, there was no single mention of any kinds of opioids in his systen.

It actually said:

 

Four fresh track marks found on Cornell's arms were reportedly a result of medics administering another drug -- naloxone -- which is used to counteract narcotics overdoses, the site said.

 

Perhaps, the medics thought that this was an opioid overdose and acted accordingly. But I'd research the Lorazepam + Butalbital combination, as both benzodiazepines in combination with barbiturates potentiate one another exponentially.

Barbiturate will make lorazepam much more potent, and lorazepam will make Butalbital much more potent.

 

Although he had substance issues in his teens, what he said here is the most striking:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cornell

 

I never did any drugs until my late 20s. Unfortunately, being a child of two alcoholics, I started drinking a lot, and that's what eventually got me back into drugs. You often hear that pot leads to harder drugs. But I think alcohol is what leads you to everything, because it takes away the fear. The worst drug experimentation I ever did was because I was drunk and didn't care."[23]

 

Alcohol is a GABA drug, and so are Ativan and Butalbital. Apparently, circa 2011 the alcohol was out of the picture:

 

In a 2011 interview, Cornell said the major change with the reformed Soundgarden was a lack of alcohol: "The biggest difference I noticed ... and we haven't even really talked about it: there are no bottles of Jack Daniel's around or beers. And we never talked about it ... it's just not there."[193]

 

So, there is a possibility that he was actually free of opiates and alcohol, but then he started taking benzodiazepines and barbiturates which are also GABA drugs, much like alcohol is.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, if they shot him full of Narcan, that shoots my theory about Movantik.  It's still a stupid drug, urged on the suffering by a cynical pharmaceutical industry.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, there is a possibility that he was actually free of opiates and alcohol, but then he started taking benzodiazepines and barbiturates which are also GABA drugs, much like alcohol is.

 

Oh what a tangled web.

 

It would be impossible to accurately pinpoint what pushed him over the edge but I speculate that the pharmaceuticals could have very likely had something to do with it. Scary that there are very few people outside of those of us who have been seriously harmed by these drugs who know to connect the dots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, if they shot him full of Narcan, that shoots my theory about Movantik.  It's still a stupid drug, urged on the suffering by a cynical pharmaceutical industry.

 

Yes, I just looked it up. Generic name naloxegol. That was a good theory you had actually. It's so ironic that now there is Movantik, since there had been Immodium for years for hypermotility problems. And that stuff is OTC for goodness sake...

 

And, honestly, they are not even saying if there were any opiates or alcohol in his system, so we can't really know 100%. I don't know what the half-lives of opiates or alcohol are, but I'd think they should be able to detect the presence. Perhaps, there may be more detailed tox reports coming out later.

 

It really truly is a  miserable situation when any suicides and/or overdoses are involved. On one hand, I absolutely respect the families' desire for privacy regarding these matters. The privacy is really sacred to them in these situations. On the other hand, it really benefits the public to find out what prescription or other drugs may have been a culprit/contributor, so these sorts of things don't need to happen again and again and again.

 

Wouldn't it be nice for each patient to have a list of all prescription drugs that are known to cause depression? And by that, I don't mean just controlled substances. There are so many medications that can actually worsen depression in people. Sometimes, I wonder how many people get started on an SSRI because their blood pressure medication has depression as a side effect.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ac...]

It does pose an interesting thought until and if ever, the full tox report comes out. One could only speculate. I know here in  Missouri narcan is quite available, so it does seem reasonable that narcan might be injected as a "what if" situation. But, then that leaves a whole other question...if he was dead by his manner of death by suicide, then why would they shoot him with the narcan? Or was it just as a precaution to try to bring him back "In case." Or was it applied before death? I would be interested to hear further down the line what the security detail that found him had to say about the timeline.

Something I stumbled across, and I will link it here is I wonder what kind of barbiturate they found..because if it was methohexital (an anesthetic) "The barbiturate methohexital appears to block the acute onset of withdrawal symptoms induced by Naloxone in opiate addicts.”  Methohexital itself "Can cause paranoid or suicidal ideation and impair memory, judgment, and coordination. Combining with other substances, particularly alcohol, can slow breathing and possibly lead to death.”

https://www.drugs.com/pro/naloxone.html

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From what I read, paramedics were prompted to start CPR after arriving at the scene. If they were able to get a pulse, they likely gave Narcan simply to be on the safe side. They could have noticed pill bottles scattered about the room.

 

I would think that in most states, first responders can do whatever they deem fit if a person is found pulseless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[7f...]

Pumpkin--my guess is that the naloxone was a component of a new drug called Movantik, which is prescribed for opioid-induced constipation.  I've written some blog posts about a stupid pharmaceutical ad featuring a handsome construction foreman named Frank. ([nobbc]www.lindacrew.com[/nobbc])  AstroZeneca has attempted to normalize opioid addiction with these ads.  The most appalling part is that the side effect of the drug (which is an opioid agonist) is that you'll feel like you're in opioid withdrawal!  Duh!  If you're going to go through opioid withdrawal, why not end up with the reward of being drug free?  But oh, no, the pharmaceutical companies would much rather you stay hooked on TWO drugs and keep filling their coffers.

 

If Cornell was taking all these different drugs, it doesn't seem unlikely he'd have been trying to dose himself out of constipation, too.

 

Edit: Commercial link deactivated

 

FinallyJoining63, as you already know, there are rules against self-promotion or selling items, including books.

 

It takes a considerable amount of time to repeatedly review your posts for these links - currently your post trail is littered with them, and they are being deactivated.

 

The team has conferred about this and has decided that if you continue to post commercial links, you will be placed on post moderation, again.

 

I attempted to send this to you as a private message, but since you have blocked moderators, I'm posting it here.

 

Here's the rule:

 

You may not post advertising or promotional content at this forum. Member contributions of helpful, relevant links are welcome and appreciated, but you are not allowed to link to outside resources for the purposes of selling products, services and/or requests for donations.

 

  Leslie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A lot of times ex opiate abusers take it cuz it blocks the receptors so they can't get high even if they wanted to. Its not anything a person feels taking it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[ac...]

A lot of times ex opiate abusers take it cuz it blocks the receptors so they can't get high even if they wanted to. Its not anything a person feels taking it.

Very true, could be so. Now Suboxone I know is a receptor blocker. Both my little brother's, in recovery (2 years free!!!) From alcohol, different opoid abuse, and illegal drugs both used Suboxone to get them free themselves. Their addiction specialist has been slowly tapering, and they are almost complete! The nalaxone is found in both the Suboxone and also the baribituate found in his system, butalbital, prescribed for headaches/pain relief...so it poses an interesting factor I had not thought about...you have of course the naloxone of the narcan, naloxone of the butalbilatol. I would wonder given his recovery from past addiction if somewhere in there he might have been taking Suboxone. I am sure they might have possibly tested for it, but then again that doesn't show up on standard opiod tests either. Off course the drugs may not have caused his death according to toxicology reports this far,  but how can one measure his state of mind and their role? That we may never know..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pumpkin--my guess is that the naloxone was a component of a new drug called Movantik, which is prescribed for opioid-induced constipation.  I've written some blog posts about a stupid pharmaceutical ad featuring a handsome construction foreman named Frank. ([nobbc]www.lindacrew.com[/nobbc])  AstroZeneca has attempted to normalize opioid addiction with these ads.  The most appalling part is that the side effect of the drug (which is an opioid agonist) is that you'll feel like you're in opioid withdrawal!  Duh!  If you're going to go through opioid withdrawal, why not end up with the reward of being drug free?  But oh, no, the pharmaceutical companies would much rather you stay hooked on TWO drugs and keep filling their coffers.

 

If Cornell was taking all these different drugs, it doesn't seem unlikely he'd have been trying to dose himself out of constipation, too.

 

Edit: Commercial link deactivated

 

I saw that AD and it made me mad. Barbs are very bad news. I once took them at detox but quickly refused anymore. I'd prefer to suffer than take that drug. Ugh!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • [in...]
    • [Tr...]
    • [Ro...]
    • [Ba...]
    • [Kr...]
    • [Si...]
    • [...]
    • [PE...]
    • [Ca...]
    • [Ma...]
    • [Ar...]
    • [Ca...]
    • [kn...]
    • [ry...]
    • [Av...]
    • [jo...]
    • [Ch...]
    • [Ma...]
    • [Bu...]
    • [ph...]
    • [be...]
    • [Ta...]
    • [am...]
    • [bl...]
    • [Jo...]
    • [jo...]
    • [Lo...]
    • [...]
    • [...]
    • [Le...]
    • [ka...]
×
×
  • Create New...