I've been thinking a lot about Michael Jackson's death and how it pertains to the potential and inherent dangers not only of scheduled narcotics, but also some of the more seemingly benign and widely prescribed compounds.  Deaths secondary to the use and abuse of prescription drugs are not a new thing, certainly.  Around 200,000 people die each year in America from medical errors.  Each time we put chemicals into our bodies, we're gambling that we will metabolize them in the expected fashion and cause a tolerably low level of damage to our other organs in the process.  Now take that gamble and then multiply it by how many concurrent synthetic medications you're taking each day or at one time.  If you're taking several medications concurrently, we call that polypharmacy, and it's very important for everyone to check in with their prescribing doctors regularly.  They will check in on those organs commonly caught in the crossfire, namely the liver, kidney and heart, perhaps offer you some natural alternatives if you desire them, and make sure you're not taking a dangerous combo! 

If polypharmacy is a must for you, do it the safe way and follow up!