HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Can Aripiprazole, Promethazine And Escitalopram Affect A Crystal Methamphetamine Addict?

default
Posted on Fri, 24 Jun 2016
Question: hi, can this list of medications/drugs severely affect a Crystal Methamphetamine addict,

1. these were all prescribed within one month , in that time a second suicide attempt, then succeeded on the third attempt after his symptoms( i suspect serotonin syndrome) escalated drastically.
2) Aripiprazole , escitalopram 20 mg
3) Promethazine replaced with Benztropine1mg, Asenapine , Aripiprazole (a high dose),upped Escitalopram from 10 to 20mg, metformin, panadol osteo, thiamine and folic acid.
4) asenapine wafers, was also on benzotropine and escitalopram, and added 2 x temazepam
5) Crystal Methamphetamine hydrochloride(ICE) , caffeine and alcohol i know can all alter the way anti psychotic medications work, and must be considered for dosage adjustment or cessation of use.
I have no otehr dosage information
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
came to right place

Detailed Answer:
This may take a while, but I'm exhaustively looking it up in the scientific journals.
First, SSRI's and methamphetamine and serotonin syndrome.
First, serotonin syndrome has literally a particular shape that defines the answer without needing to look it up. Water and coffee and most things can give fatal overdose too. In serotonin and water and coffee, etc. you get sick way before you get dead. It is highly unlikely to get a fatality from it without all the other stuff of serotonin: flushing, crazy, diarrhea. Second, SEROTONIN specific drug ... and EPINEPHRINE specific methamphetamine don't cross over that much.

Thiamine, folate, food, acetaminophen, no. Metformin has effects on metabolism and liver failure might be an interaction with it and many drugs including methamphetamine. I researched this particular subject. I am putting in a XXXXXXX on this particular subject. The reason why is that there isn't much known on this particular subject. BUT, if the person didn't have A LOT of metabolic abnormalities (acidosis, low blood pressure, liver and/or kidney failure) prior to dying, metformin isn't involved. Unless they were a diabetc on insulin and then, there could be hypoglycemia with interaction between disease, drug, conditions. But no.

The very good question is aripiprazole and / or phenergan/promethazine and/or asenapine with/without alcohol.

What symptoms escalated?

With a reply I get unlimited time to get all the research and with getting the symptoms I can give a much better answer, but this is a good start.

Thank you for an great question, with any reply including "don't know the symptoms, just replying" then I will give a (much) more detailed answer on the remaining drugs.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
thankyou for quick response,

i have been exhaustively searching for answers myself, i can forward much more information, but here is a quick list before i sleep for a few hours
Anxiety, aggitation, sick to the stomach, homicidal threats, sleeplessness, hearing voices, paranoia,Akathisia , difficulty with speech, weight gain, sleep apnoea, confusion. the list goes on these probably the main ones in the last few weeks of his life
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Ok, got it.

Detailed Answer:
Neuroleptic Malignant syndrome.
Actually the usual actions of methamphetamine, serotonin syndrome, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome overlap and there isn't any articles that SAY there is an interaction between amphetamine and antipsychotics for producing neuroleptic malignant syndrome, just everything that the amphetamines do, IS a known risk factor for producing neuroleptic malignant syndrome from psych medicines (most of the ones he was on EXCEPT the anti depressants).

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is where the muscles lock up and can't unlock. Anti-psychotic medicines can often have a little bit of effect to make muscle spasm. If this goes utterly haywire then:
1) muscle lock up and get sore and often break
2) makes pain
3) makes fever
4) these can kill you.
also there is usually mental instability with it.
Risks for it are MORE psych meds and more muscle activity.
More psych meds occur when higher doses are given, when more than one given or more than one are given but there isn't time between previous ones and they add up OR when someone is dehydrated or lower body weight from the effects of the amphetamine. More muscle activity can occur from the drugs or from the amphetamine or from agitation from the drugs or the amphetamine.
If fever was present, then he had it. Period. If fever was NOT present, he may or may not have had it. Other signs are muscle problems (pain, ache, labs showing muscle is breaking down).

Amphetamine alone often causes paranoia and agitation and fidgeting and some fever.

Serotonin syndrome is NOT very associated with amphetamine. I'm not sure it is associated with it at all. When there has been an article describing any link at all, they go on to describe the situation identically to neuroleptic malignant syndrome and NOT like serotonin syndrome.

BUT
Ecstasy (another drug of abuse) and club drug methamphetmine (bath salts, etc) DO cause serotonin syndrome. Often people think they are getting one and get the other. Serotonin syndrome IS associated with lexapro + exctasy.

So, Neuroleptic malignant syndrome could have been the cause of death. It could have been made more likely to occur by that combination of drugs. And if there was fever at the time of death, yes, it is neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Serotonin syndrome is not supported by anything BUT if there was another drug of abuse present (extasy) then it is quite likely and can be a cause of death.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
I will read about neuroleptic malignant syndrome today, thank you for another clue. I really wish i knew what subjects to study, to research different ways to treat drug addicts, preventing other families to suffer as we did. ICE is rampant here, I see my kids friends slipping down the addicts path and I don't know how to effectively help them, I don't want to advise our mental health system, thought many really need proper medical intervention! My ex partner used speed from a young age, now kids are starting on ICE, I foresee a mental health zombie appocolypse herein oz!
The Aussie mental health system is very flawed, this the coroner did find, and found more than 8 major problems with our system that now must be addresses, (and to this date have not)but I feel they have overlooked the effects and symptoms the medications and illicit drugs induced. I am appalled at the lack of information we recieved in the highest form of investigation offered by coroner's, it took twelve months to get partial information from 8 out of 12 known medical providers associated with leading up to his death. Fever status unknown, we didn't get the full reports of symptoms presented, or dosages of meds, i will ask his father who was caring for him at the time, if he can remember himself what his son was presenting with. Legally I don't know how much of the report I can share, every page that is stamped ausgov, is also stamped confidential, followed by lots of legal jargon
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
wow, guess I don't know the Aussie system.

Detailed Answer:
In the US, rights are quite small after death and half my day is getting records out to people (for free).

But some things about addiction. Methamphetamine is quite difficult as an addiction. It has not been around the NorthEast of the United States, so my frist hand knowledge of it is quite limited. There might not be that much one can do but 1) get someone physically away from it (rehab center) or 2) wait til it literally burns itself out. The brain damage from it is surprisingly reversible. Recovery takes time. I don't know any methamphetamine addicts so I cannot comment much on the nature of recovery. The case in narcotics, cigarettes, alcohol, food, won't be quite the same.
Key point in meth, is that unlike all the others, withdrawal isn't horrible. So, detox is more important. Then after one is detoxed (10 days is low, 90 is high), work on the cravings is pretty much it. Personally, I would recommend a modified CBT. Identification of what the pattern of abuse is, and where one could go off the previous path and not do meth. Build positive feelings fro not using it and negative feelings surrounding the use. The fundamental problem is that brain chemistry studies show meth as literally 3 to 10x better than sex. Having people contaminate pleasant memories of it with the memories of the bad consequences so those are automatically brought up every time they think of using might have some benefit.
Consider attending some recovery meetings. Mostly would be beneficial for those at the meeting for you to share.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Can Aripiprazole, Promethazine And Escitalopram Affect A Crystal Methamphetamine Addict?

Brief Answer: came to right place Detailed Answer: This may take a while, but I'm exhaustively looking it up in the scientific journals. First, SSRI's and methamphetamine and serotonin syndrome. First, serotonin syndrome has literally a particular shape that defines the answer without needing to look it up. Water and coffee and most things can give fatal overdose too. In serotonin and water and coffee, etc. you get sick way before you get dead. It is highly unlikely to get a fatality from it without all the other stuff of serotonin: flushing, crazy, diarrhea. Second, SEROTONIN specific drug ... and EPINEPHRINE specific methamphetamine don't cross over that much. Thiamine, folate, food, acetaminophen, no. Metformin has effects on metabolism and liver failure might be an interaction with it and many drugs including methamphetamine. I researched this particular subject. I am putting in a XXXXXXX on this particular subject. The reason why is that there isn't much known on this particular subject. BUT, if the person didn't have A LOT of metabolic abnormalities (acidosis, low blood pressure, liver and/or kidney failure) prior to dying, metformin isn't involved. Unless they were a diabetc on insulin and then, there could be hypoglycemia with interaction between disease, drug, conditions. But no. The very good question is aripiprazole and / or phenergan/promethazine and/or asenapine with/without alcohol. What symptoms escalated? With a reply I get unlimited time to get all the research and with getting the symptoms I can give a much better answer, but this is a good start. Thank you for an great question, with any reply including "don't know the symptoms, just replying" then I will give a (much) more detailed answer on the remaining drugs.