A Mix of Painkillers

The Web was buzzing after Billy Mays was found to have a mix of drugs in his system that included three different pain killers and cocaine. Because cocaine was in this mix, it led many to wonder if perhaps Mays was abusing prescription drugs, as well as the illegal drug of cocaine. So would a doctor really prescribe hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol to one patient?

In a word, yes. It can happen with chronic pain. One source says that a:

“doctor might prescribe one medication to treat chronic, baseline pain and another one for a more acute pain that the first drug couldn’t prevent. In unusual circumstances, a third medication might be used to treat another “breakthrough” pain.”

The issue of three medications in Mays’ system probably would not have been discussed had the cocaine been found. It’s difficult for us to know exactly what was going on with Billy Mays. Many have said they knew him in passing and that he would never take cocaine. Yet toxicology tests simply don’t lie. Even the people we know best in the world may take medication for conditions they keep from us.

Image: Zuma Press