Accidental Overdose Killed Ledger

NYC Medical Examiner Says Mix Of Drugs Included Painkillers, Sleeping Pills, Anti-Anxiety Meds

(CBS/AP)  Actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs that included painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, the New York City medical examiner said Wednesday.

"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine," medical examiner's spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said in a news release.

Oxycodone is a painkiller marketed as OxyContin and used in other painkillers such as Percodan and Percocet; hydrocodone is used in a number of painkillers, including Vicodin.

Diazepam and alprazolam are the generic names for the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the other two drugs are sleep aids commonly sold under the brands Restoril and Unisom.

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Photos: On Losing Ledger

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Borakove wouldn't say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger's blood, or whether one drug played a greater part than another in causing his death.

"What you're looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together is what caused his death," she said.

Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Brokeback Mountain," died in his New York City apartment Jan. 22. He was 28.

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Photos: Ledger's Life Cut Short

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Authorities suspected a drug overdose after several prescription drugs were found in the apartment where his body was found.

Meanwhile, Ledger's family returned home to Perth, Australia Tuesday after visiting in New York. Michelle Williams, and Matilda - her 2-year-old daughter with Ledger - are also in Perth. The family won't comment on funeral arrangements and Williams has requested privacy for those in mourning.

The family will reportedly hold a private ceremony and either bury Ledger's remains or have them cremated and interred at the family's plot at a cemetery in Perth, where his two grandparents lie. The timing of the funeral is unclear.

[killtheliars]

irolynot,

I do not care what you say, anyone who all of those drugs is either wacked out of their mind or is trying to commit suicide.
Who do you know that would mix oxycontn, valium, and zanax, as well as two types of sleeping pills?
Also the medical examiners quote "Borakove wouldn''t say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger''s blood, or whether one drug played a greater part than another in causing his death" is very sketchy, it seems to me he is trying to do whatever he can to make this look like a tragic accident instead of either a suicide or a drug addict who got so high he lost track of what he was ingesting.

[melissapat]

irolynot - I agree with you too. Great post.

[melissapat]

bobbie19571 - I totally agree with you. People do not know what it is like to be addicted. I have insomnia as well. I do not take sleeping pills though because my past history with drugs. One time I did not sleep for 2 weeks. In addition to the not sleeping, I would get anxiety at night worrying if I was going to sleep at night.

I feel for Heath. Not sleeping is absolutly the worst. I would rather have the flu for 2 weeks than not sleeping.

People on this website are commenting on an illness they do not understand. It is very annoying.

[irolynot]

From all the reports it clearly states that there were NO ILLEGAL drugs in Ledger''s apt; only prescribed rx''s by his doctors. I don''t understand where all those writing here feel that they know more than what the medical examiner does --
Insomnia and Anxiety are horrible ailments and to those who have not suffered from either and don''t understand the ramifications of what this does to ones body -- shut up. Until you have experienced these, you have no idea what a toll it takes on ones body or mind.
How many of you tell your doctor''s they don''t know what they are talking about when they prescribe medications to you? Or do you do what the doctor states?
Now, how many of you read that there were 6 prescriptions in Heath Ledger''s name, prescribed by HIS DOCTORS? So, bottomline, he did just as the doctor ordered and paid the price due to a cumulative build-up in his body -- this can happen to anyone and I am sure it does every single day. From what I read, more people need to question their doctors and ensure that they inform their doctors of medications they are currently taking to prevent this happening to them. These were NOT illegally obtained.

[irolynot]

killtheliars: Can you not read? It did not state that he took these all at once -- CUMULATIVE means a build-up over TIME -- He did not intentionally kill himself. You are just trying to stir the pot -- you need help since your thrills are assumptions. Your login is very befitting for yourself since you can''t read nor understand the facts at hand.




with all of those drugs taken at once there is no way this was an accident. The guy comitted suicide
Posted by killtheliars at 11:27 AM : Feb 07, 2008

[bobbie19571]

The people comparing Heath''s death to that of a drug addict doing illegal drugs, you are wrong.
I suffer from insomnia and I know the anxiety of not being able to sleep. It helps me fall asleep but to stay asleep I have to take more when I wake up. Do I consider myself a drug addict? Yes I do. I do not mix drugs though. Heath just wanted to be able to sleep and he took more than his body could handle. I understand that. My condolences to his family. When I think of him it will not be as a drug abuser but as a talented human being who was tragically taken too soon.

[killtheliars]

with all of those drugs taken at once there is no way this was an accident. The guy comitted suicide

[bluebird3028]

The shame of this is we have had a plethora of prominent people in the media lately dying from accidental drug overdoses. There is no telling the number that go unreported because they are not famous. We had Anna Nicole Smith, Ike Turner, and now Heath Ledger. We have some dangerous drugs being advertised as the answer to our sleep and pain problems. How about some behavior modification or other benign ways to control these conditions instead of throwing drugs at every problem we have. When you see the ads on TV the disclaimer should say it all. If you have liver, heart, prostrate, advanced HIV, etc. If you''re a teenager, increased sexual urges or have thoughts of suicide be warned. From my POV it has gotten way out of control.

[melissapat]

Heath Ledgers death was very upsetting me for several reasons. First, one of my fav movies is BrokeBack Mountain. I think that movie was the most perfect movie I had ever seen...great story, great acting, and full of symbolism..etc. Second, I am a recovering Heroin Addict and have been clean for 14 years. I got clean at 28. Heath Ledger, as we know, was 28 when he died.

I find it very annoying when people, who have not walked in the shoes that many of us have walked in (Heath and myself), have opinions on addiction. Let me tell you, addiction is a disease just like any other psychological disease. We just can''t stop. It "takes what it takes". For some of us it takes jail (me) other it takes death. I know people who have OD''d numerous times and still did not get clean. Some are still alive and some are dead. It is VERY common for addicts to die. They have 2 choices: stop or die. They die from the disease of addiction. I know it carries a stigma. But it is a disease many die of.

Lastly, I feel so sorry for that little girl of his. She will grow up not knowing him, since she is only 2 she won''t remember him, and she will have to live her life with the stigma that her dad died of an overdose. Heath''s death will be talked about forever...just like Kurt Cobain, John Bellushi, and River Phoenix. Just so sad...

[irolynot]

offtheback: So are you saying that you were personally there when he took all these drugs and that you know for a FACT that he was an abuser or addict? If not, then you like the media are basing your judgements, assumptions, and conclusions on what the media has spewed out. Unless you are/were a personal friend - you, too, are talking out of your a$$.

You wrote:
One does not end up taking all of these drugs in a time period that they can all be detected through perscribed use or even casual recreation. He was a user and abuser for some period of time.
I will say it again, these people have all the money anyone could possibly ever need and this is all they can think to do? Holly crud Batman!
Posted by offtheback at 08:49 PM : Feb 06, 2008

[gaye5]

Iceman_1960, I was being cynical.. of course he would not leave a note like that.. and I think it is a very good point you make about copy cats, and besides, the family should just be left alone to grieve.

[irolynot]

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

May all those who feel that they can laugh & joke at the price of someone else''s loss -- get their just desserts!

[irolynot]

As an American I am disappointed in all the apparent drug abusers in here. The skepticism and knowledge of these pills - which mind you were prescribed by a doctor and it is the doctor''s responsibility to ask the patient what other medications they are taking, if any. I am sure that you all have the medical degrees just as you are all professional psychics by stating this couldn''t be accidental. Does the word CUMULATIVE mean anything to you? It simply means that the body had a build-up - it doesn''t mean all at once. The ignorance in this place is astounding. For those of you who just do a doobie or a line -- Just know it only takes one line to kill you as your cumulative use can and will catch up with you and destroy your body as well.
The cause of anyone''s death is no one''s business but the family''s.
The video tape did not show Heath doing drugs - he spoke of them but then again how many of you men have exaggerated about the truth as to what you do? Most people lie period to ''fit'' in the chosen venue in the first place.
I am not saying that Heath didn''t do these things, but then again it was his life, his choice, and his business. I don''t know him at all and it is not my place to assume what he did or didn''t do. This world is so hell-bent on what other''s are doing they don''t realize what a$$es they themselves have become.

[iceman_1960]

If someone were trying to kill himself, he wouldn"t have done it in this particular way. It"s too haphazard. Males in particular tend to choose more lethal methods.

It does look like an accidental overdose.

Lets give the late Mr. Ledger the benefit of the doubt.

[iceman_1960]

"Yes. The note said, "I am about to accidentally overdose."

The full text of the note has just been released:

"I think I just accidentally overdosed... Somebody call Mary-Kate Olsen, quick !!"

[iceman_1960]

"How the hang do they know that the over dose was accidental,, did he leave a note???"
- Posted by Gaye5 at 02:49 AM : Feb 07, 2008

Yes. The note said, "I am about to accidentally overdose."

No, seriously, in the absence of evidence that he committed suicide, they gave Mr. Ledger and his loved ones the benefit of the doubt.

It"s just as well. Celebrity suicides inevitably incite "copycat" suicides by impressionable young fans. Why run that risk if they don"t have to ?

[radishfish]

First off, for the record, I am an American.

It is my observation that often people who are the most ignorant and lack in manners are quick to criticize and tear down others.

For the family of Mr. Ledger, privacy and dignity should be maintained as much as possible. Just the same as you would want if your child, parent or spouse died. Does it matter so much how he died? And if he did take his own life, why is that something to be so crass about that you LAUGH about it on the internet? Perhaps you don''t get enough practice showing your backside in your private life, so you have do it for everyone online to remove all doubt?

People who have admired and known of his career should be supportive of his family in this time instead of jeering and laughing.

[radishfish]

First off, for the record, I am an American.

It is my observation that often people who are the most ignorant and lack in manners are quick to criticize and tear down others.

For the family of Mr. Ledger, privacy and dignity should be maintained as much as possible. Just the same as you would want if your child, parent or spouse died. Does it matter so much how he died? And if he did take his own life, why is that something to be so crass about that you LAUGH about it on the internet? Perhaps you don''t get enough practice in your private life at tearing others down so you have to do it for everybody to know about?

People who have admired and known of his career should be supportive of his family in this time instead of jeering and laughing.

[radishfish]

First off, for the record, I am an American.

It is my observation that often people who are the most ignorant and lack in manners are quick to criticize and tear down others.

For the family of Mr. Ledger, privacy and dignity should be maintained as much as possible. Just the same as you would want if your child, parent or spouse died. Does it matter so much how he died? And if he did take his own life, why is that something to be so crass about that you LAUGH about it on the internet? Perhaps you don''t get enough practice in your private life at tearing others down so you have to do it for everybody to know about?

People who have admired and known of his career should be supportive of his family in this time instead of jeering and laughing.

[gaye5]

I do know that it can cloud your thinking on how much you have taken and over what period of time when taking some of these things, but that much???

So many of these so called actors and sports people have such messed up lives so much money and so are unhappy and we call them stars, and our young want to emulate their lives..I think it is about time we took stock as who we count as our heroes..