February 6, 2008

Accidental Overdose of Prescription Drugs Killed Heath


An accidental overdose of prescription medication killed Heath Ledger.

The New York City medical examiner's office released the official cause of death today.

Heath died "as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Diazepam, Temazepam, Alprozalam and Doxylamine," a cocktail of sleeping medications, painkillers and anti-anxiety pills.

The drugs are the generic names for the painkiller OxyContin, the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax and the sleep aids Restoril and Unisom. Hydrocodone is another name for ibuprofen.

"We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications," the medical examiner's office said.

Heath, 28, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Jan. 22, several bottles of prescription drugs near his body. His grieving family, along with "heartbroken" Michelle Williams and their two-year-old daughter Matilda, will bury him Saturday in his hometown of Perth, Australia.


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Comments (13)

On 12 Feb 2008, Chris wrote:

Folks..I got news for You. You’d be surprized at how many Doctor’s “overmedicate” their patients.
I also believe that Heath suffered from some form of physical AND emotional pain. That doesn’t mean he wanted to die!
I truly believe that Heath was a Good Man- a Talented Actor and a Wonderful Father. No matter how you look at it we have lost Him..His Family has lost him and His Daughter has lost him..it sucks!
God Bless the Family Et All..

 
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On 11 Feb 2008, Lori wrote:

Why dont you all just leave Heath alone and let him REST IN PEACE! You dont know what was going on or that he did it deliberately….YOU WASNT THERE!

 
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On 7 Feb 2008, Anonymous wrote:

May he rest in eternal Peace. This tradegy has led many other stars to seek treatment recently. Maybe someone’s life will be saved.

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, ratchet wrote:

You can obtain meds like that anywhere.May the lord jesus christ have mercy on his soul and bring him to everlasting life.It happens. Drugs happen. RX or not.

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, K wrote:

In my opinion accidental overdose is possible, I can think of many situation where that could be possible. And remember not every one pays attention to the warning labels that comes with the meds they are taking. Give the guy a break, we weren’t there we can only imagine what happened that day… may his soul RIP

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, Andrea wrote:

Please make sure you correct that hydrocodone is generic for ibuprofen. It’s not. Hydrocodone is vicodin and ibuprofen combined. Oxycontin is vicodin and tylenol combined. So if he was taking both hydrocodone and oxycontin, he was taking double the vicodin — and probably was unaware of that. PLEASE make sure this is publicized so that others do not make the same potentially deadly mistake. Thanks.

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, humm wrote:

hydrocodone is the generic for vicoden . . you all know nothing

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, jen wrote:

my thoughts exactly. so, what im getting out of all of this is that they liked him so much they couldnt admit it was drug abuse?!?!? how can you accidently abuse drugs? he knew what they were for, he obviously liked the effects and wanted the “high”. Come on people, he obviously wasnt a saint, so stop making him out to be one. good actor, yes, good decision maker, no! News/media need to stop buttering things up to please the ears of movie-goers to make a buck. its sick

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, Mia wrote:

Actually hydrocodone is NOT the generic of Oxycontin. Oxycontin is a brand name for the opiate painkiller oxycodone (and is time released). But hydrocodone and oxycodone are both opiate medications and therefore are similar.

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, jackie wrote:

I’m a big fan of Heath Ledger’s work and have been very saddened and heartsick over his death. His death was ruled accidental but due to the “abuse” of prescription medications. Hydrocodone is the generic for Oxycotin which is a narcotic painkiller which normally would not be prescribed unless you had a documented source of pain (often for post-surgery pain). A physician would not prescribe all these meds so either he didn’t disclose all his medication to various physicians or he had an unethical, negligent physican. It is very sad but it helps nobody to brush the “abuse” of prescription drugs under the guise of an “accidental” death. He clearly was using medications in excess as I don’t believe any single doctor prescribed all these meds for legitimate conditions

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, Mia wrote:

Hydrocodone is NOT Ibuprofen! Get the story right! RIP Heath.

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, Jess wrote:

Hydrocodone is another narcotic painkiller, not ibuprofen.

 
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On 6 Feb 2008, TheOtherShannon wrote:

I loved Heath so don’t think that what I’m about to say makes me a “hater” but why would anyone take that many medications together if they weren’t “trying” to end their life?
RIP Heath!!!

 
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