Crackpot Lawrence O’Donnell apparently thinks so. However, as usual, he alludes to evidence but produces nothing. But it did get me thinking about Cheney’s heart condition and the various medications he must be on - specifically, is he on any medication that would prompt his doctors to advise against alcohol consumption?
Here is just a brief sample of the likely medications Cheney is on for his heart condition and what the indications are regarding alcohol:
# ACE inhibitor such as lisinopril (Zestril), or AR blocker
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking lisinopril. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and increase drowsiness and dizziness when you are taking lisinopril.
# anti-cholesterol “statin” such as atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Alcohol and atorvastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.
# beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol, or carvedilol (Coreg)
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking this medication.
# nitroglycerin prn
Avoid alcohol. It also widens blood vessels and may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and low blood pressure. It could be dangerous to combine alcohol with nitroglycerin.
These are just a few of the possible medications Cheney is on and all of them have cautions regarding alcohol. Given Cheney’s position as VP and his heart history, it is quite unlikely Cheney was drinking.
**UPDATE**
A beer at lunch - the accident happened at dusk.
protein wisdom Says:
A few quick thoughts on "Cheney's Chappaquiddick"…
Earlier today I touched very briefly on the left's growing "Cheney was drunk!" meme -- mostly as a way to distinguish their breathless, relentless, almost swarming interest in what was an unfortunate hunting accident (at a press …