Taylor Swift fans accuse misuse of Rivotril at concerts – 11/25/2023 – Health

Fans of singer Taylor Swift who attended the shows in Rio de Janeiro complain that the medical team distributed medicines such as Rivotril (clonazepan) to those who fainted, felt nervous and even unwell between the 17th and 20th of last week.

A black-label benzodiazepine, the medicine is administered during panic attacks and to induce sleep — only under medical prescription. Used in cases of dehydration, according to doctor Fernando Tallo, it can worsen the condition.

Influencer Bel Rodrigues, 29, says she was treated with Rivotril when she was feeling sick from the heat and thirst. Maria Eduarda Leite, 21, states that she received the tranquilizer Diazepam (also a benzodiazepine) when she was scared by the dragnet on Saturday (18). Civil engineer Yan Corrêa, 30, says he slept throughout the final half of the show after being treated at the emergency station on Friday (17).

This same day was marked by the death of fan Ana Clara Benevides, 23 years old, after falling ill during the singer’s performance at the Nilton Santos Stadium. She was taken to the Salgado Filho Municipal Hospital, in Méier, but had a cardiorespiratory arrest and could not resist.

The company Vida UTI, which usually serves the Nilton Santos stadium (Engenhão) and worked at the shows, says it does not use clonazepam (active ingredient in Rivotril), but did not deny the use of benzodiazepine tranquilizers such as Diazepam.

“Considering that more than 1,800 patients were treated, the use of controlled medications did not exceed 1% of consultations”, write medical directors Agnelo Quintela and Rogerio Casemiro in an email message.

When asked directly about the chances of a sublingual medicine administered to the public having been Rivotril, they responded that it is not the practice.

“I said they dislocated my shoulder, I passed out and got nervous. They took a Rivotril, said ‘open your mouth and lift your tongue'”, says Yan Corrêa. The engineer arrived at the show on the 17th at 9am and started feeling ill as soon as he arrived at the premium track. He held on until singer Taylor Swift asked them to hand out water to fans.

In the movement of the public who were feeling ill, Yan injured his shoulder. Soon after, she passed out. According to him, in addition to Rivotril, she received two injections. After being released, he slept the rest of the show next to the stage bar.

Doctor Fernando Tallo, president of the Brazilian Association of Urgency and Emergency Medicine, states that it is not common to administer Rivotril to patients who are at events such as concerts. “We always try to avoid this type of medication. Especially giving medication to someone who may have electrolyte changes due to sweating,” he says.

In addition to the danger of the medication progressing badly with dehydration, the doctor questions whether it is safe to induce sleep in someone who is in a crowd of people.

Tallo, however, says that it is not unreasonable to administer a benzodiazepine in cases of extreme anxiety, if a physical examination, checking of vital signs, heart rate, blood rate and questions about health status have been carried out beforehand. According to him, Rivotril is metabolized in a few hours and afterwards there are no side effects.

“At no point did I appear to be feeling nervous,” says Bel Rodrigues to Sheet. The influencer reports that she felt unwell due to the heat, had low blood pressure and was treated normally the first time she went to the clinic. On Monday, however, she went to the place to cool off in the air conditioning and was induced to take the medicine.

Bel says that she asked to stay in a corner of the clinic to cool off, but as the place started to fill up, the health professional refused and suggested the medicine. “She said: ‘I’m going to put five drops of clonazepam for you and it will calm you down’. I know what clonazepam is, I’ve already taken it, so I knew there wouldn’t be any adverse reaction. But she didn’t ask any of that.”

Patients who claim to have received the tranquilizer report that they were not asked about allergies, drug interactions and possible impediments to taking the medicine.

On the 18th, Joana Leite, 20, from São Paulo, had an anxiety attack when she found out that the show had been postponed. At the outpatient clinic, she said that the professionals wanted to medicate her with Rivotril. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she refused to take the medication because it is not one she is used to, in addition to being afraid of its interaction with three other controlled medications she takes.

On the same day, Maria Eduarda Leite, 21, from Recife, panicked when, after feeling ill because of the heat, she found herself in the middle of an alleged trawler. On her second visit to the clinic, she says she received Diazepam.

“I wanted a copy of my emergency care, because I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital, but they denied me. They said it was an emergency room and that there was nothing registered”, says Leite.

According to the company Vida UTI, responsible for care, the prescription of medicines in pre-hospital care (APH) is a medical prerogative, which is “sovereign in decision-making”.

“Medical conduct is based on the interview, vital signs and clinical assessment, where the patient’s signs and symptoms are observed. After all this set of information, the doctor establishes a therapeutic plan, which may consist of medications, including those psychoactive substances, all established in the list of medical acts, supported by the federal council and regional medical councils”, writes the medical board.

In a previous report by Sheet, Mariana Marcarini, 23, from São Paulo, said she received the medicine after having her blood pressure checked. “They measured my blood pressure and gave me a sublingual medicine (” Clonazepam “, the girl who helped me told me) and another medicine for nausea,” she said.

Rio student Lavínia Mendes, 21, said she suspected she had received the same medicine. She went to the clinic before the opening show even started with low blood pressure.

“The doctor, who already had a medicine packet in her hand, pricked one of the medicines, put it under my tongue and said: ‘Keep it under your tongue, wait for it to dissolve’. And that was it. I was not told what the medication was at any time. I was very weak, so I didn’t question it either”, says Lavinia.

“During the show, I couldn’t enjoy it. My feeling was that if I screamed, if I jumped, I would fall at any moment.”

The producer Time for Fun, responsible for Taylor Swift’s shows in Brazil, states that it works with partners for medical care and does not have access to the records of care provided at its events. “The company, its partners and suppliers strictly follow all protocols determined by health authorities”, says a statement.