Heath Ledger has passed away :MEMORIAL PICS POSTED

[dcgrumpy]

I thought that they had determined that what the did find in his residence were prescribed to him. However, I wonder if all the drugs in his system were also found at his residence and prescribed to him?

I know they originally said that the bottle they found were prescribed but like you said I don't know if those were the drugs that were found in his system.

The ones that truly concern me are the OxyContin and Vicodin which are pain killers. Not sure why he would need those and docs are pretty tough on handing them out without a real compelling reasons.

Tell me about it, I'd have to have a limb hanging off before my one doctor would prescribe narcotics. When he discharged me after my hysterectomy he told me to take OTC motrin

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

The following is a statement from Heath's Family - I hope that they can have some peace now!



Statement from Kim Ledger on behalf of the Ledger family issued following the release of the Medical Examiner's findings:

We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child. Few can understand the hollow, wrenching, and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts.

While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.

Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.

We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.

At this moment we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography

 

[chris1gill]

That is the saddest letter I have read....

Having said that, the autopsy said all those drugs were found in low doses... Were all those drugs taken on the same day? Perhaps one taken one day, and then 18-24 hours later take a different drug?

 

[rie'smom]

The other day I threw out an Oxycodone prescription form November when I broke my arm. People sometimes forget to throw out meds.

My exSIL abused prescription drugs. She went to different doctors and different pharmacies in neighboring towns. It's not hard to do.

I guess he was pretty messed up to take so many different meds at the same time.
Everyone should pay attention because it's not uncommon to mix:

an over the counter with a prescription med

2 over the counter meds

2 prescriptions

and have a very bad outcome.Always tell your doc about any meds or even herbs or supplements that you're taking.

 

[Crankyshank]

If you're taking all of those pills within a short enough period of time to register in your blood stream, you've got a drug problem. I don't care how low the dose was or how it was prescribed.

Since WHEN is Hydrocodone and Ibuprofen the same thing?????

It's not, but there is a pill called vicoprofen that is a combination of the two. I have it at home.

 

[canwegosoon]

In a statement released through Ledger's publicist, the actor's father, Kim, said Wednesday: "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."


I'm with his dad on this one.

 

[LisaNJ25]

very very sad.

I know he got his medicine from different drs in the US and Europe. You wonder if he told them all what he was on? Its not like he went to the same pharmacy and the pharmacist says hey.. before theses dont mix together.

 

[cabanafrau]

If his death saves anyone else from the same fate, at least there will have been something valuable to come out of all the nastiness of the media circus this has been. A parent losing a child absolutely sends shudders down my spine. His family has conducted themselves admirably, particularly w/ the microscope they've been under. My heart absolutely goes out to them.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

This makes his death even more upsetting because it was accidental. Also remember he had the Flu - He was also working on a movie. From what most in Hollywood have said about him was that he was a hard worker so maybe he took something so he could continue to work and then once he got home he could crash and get some sleep. All of the prescriptions were in his name, but again keep in mind just like alot of us on here we have prescriptions that we might not have used up and they are still in our medicine cabinet.

Now everyone should honor him and leave his family alone to grieve and remember Heath the best way possible.

So very sad, I still get choked up about it I just think of his daughter but now she will know that he was a good man and only wanted to watch her grow up.

 

[dcgrumpy]

All of the prescriptions were in his name, but again keep in mind just like alot of us on here we have prescriptions that we might not have used up and they are still in our medicine cabinet.

What does that mean? They were found in his system not just sitting in the medicine cabinet.

 

[jenfur]

I just wanted to comment because my Dh was discussing this with me this morning and it could be a case where one pill was no working well enough so he was given another to supplement. Like when you have a toothache and take Tylenol, but it doesn't budge so you take ibuprofen (my Dr. recommends that for high fevers as well). Also, some drugs stay in the body for quite a while after they have been taken and can build up enough to still interact with other medications. Especially if a person is ill or their immune system is suppressed. Plus, if a doctor prescribes a medication, many people assume its safe to take and don't think about interactions- it happens all the time; it just doesn't make the news. Anyways, I think it is important not to make him into another Anna Nicole, he clearly was not a "druggie." I wish this could just be the incredibly sad event that it is without the need to create scandal.

 

[LukenDC]

Over the past two weeks the press has made Heath out to be a hard core druggie. It's interesting to note that no illegal drugs were found in his home or in his blood stream. While it is quite possible that Heath was a user of recreational drugs, he does not seem to have been as wild as the press wanted us to believe.

This tragedy was brought about by prescription drugs used to treat ailments that Heath publicly acknowledged having, namely insomnia and anxiety. It is likely that his exhaustion clouded his judgement and played a role in the overdose.

Heath was no saint, but the hype surrounding his death should serve as a reminder that the press has a tendency to be manipulative and sensationalistic.

 

[dcgrumpy]

This tragedy was brought about by prescription drugs used to treat ailments that Heath publicly acknowledged having, namely insomnia and anxiety. It is likely that his exhaustion clouded his judgement and played a role in the overdose.

Hydrocone and oxycodone are not prescribed for insomnia or anxiety.

 

[jenfur]

Hydrocone and oxycodone are not prescribed for insomnia or anxiety.

He also recently finished shooting a VERY physically demanding movie.

 

[RadioNate]

Hydrocone and oxycodone are not prescribed for insomnia or anxiety.

And they are frequently abused, and like xanax, are often taken recreationally. Just like we shouldn't assume that he was a 'druggie' (boy I really despise that term) we also shouldn't assume, low levels or not, that there was a need for everything he was taken.

There was a nasty combination of drugs in his system.

 

[Jennasis]

Hydrocodone and oxycodone make my DH QUITE sleepy. Perhaps he was really desperate for some rest?

 

[Deb in IA]

The DEA has started an investigation into how he got so many drugs in his body:

The Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed to ABC News that they have launched an investigation into how Ledger obtained the six drugs found in his body. According to an official, the DEA has requested copies of Ledger's autopsy as well as the original police report from the crime scene.

"It would be inconceivable that one doctor would give one patient all of those medications," ABC News medical editor Dr. Tim Johnson said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=4240260&page=1

 

[paigevz]

The DEA has started an investigation into how he got so many drugs in his body:



http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=4240260&page=1

I'm glad they are looking into it, you certainly don't need both percocet and vicodin, and you also don't need two different sleep aids. I'll bet it wasn't one doctor, but if it was, how irresponsible!

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

I can't be bothered to trawl back through this thread but I'm sure that early on someone posted a news report that said he'd injured his back filming the Batman film....maybe this would explain the pain killers he was on?