18 Celebrities Who Died from Prescription Drugs
Posted by DJust because they're legal doesn't mean that pharmaceutical drugs are any less dangerous than illicit drugs. They are potentially deadly when taken in large doses or when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes it takes high-profile cases to remind us of the dangers. Here are 18 such cases.
Marilyn Monroe
Date: August 5, 1962
Drugs: Pentobarbital (AKA Nembutal) and chloral hydrate (sleeping pills)
The sex symbol actress was found dead at age 36 in her Los Angeles home early on the morning of August 5. The toxicology report showed high levels of two barbiturates in her blood: Nembutal and chloral hydrate. Monroe's "acute barbiturate poisoning" was listed as a "probable suicide," but many people believe that it was an accidental overdose or even a murder.
Dorothy Dandridge
Date: September 8, 1965
Drug: Imipramine, AKA Tofranil (antidepressant)
The first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, the 42-year-old Dandridge was found dead by her manager from what was diagnosed as "acute drug intoxication." Her death was ruled to be due to an accidental overdose of Tofranil, an antidepressant that she took for what today might be diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Some people claim that she died from combining the Tofranil with pain medication she was taking for a broken ankle.
Jimi Hendrix
Date: September 18, 1970
Drug: Secobarbital, AKA Seconal (sleeping pill)
The influential American guitarist, 27, was found dead in his girlfriend's London hotel room, although some claim that he died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The cause of death noted on the coroner's report was "inhalation of vomit" after "barbiturate intoxication (quinalbarbitone)". Quinalbarbitone is the British term for the sleep aid secobarbital; the pills belonged to Hendrix's girlfriend. His death is believed to have been accidental, although some have suggested suicide.
Bruce Lee
Date: July 20, 1973
Drug: Equagesic (painkiller)
The iconic martial artist died in Hong Kong at the age of 32 from swelling of the brain ("acute cerebral edema") caused by an allergic reaction to the prescription painkiller equagesic, which contains aspirin and the muscle relaxant meprobamate. The pill was given to him by an actress friend after he complained of a headache.
Freddie Prinze
Date: January 29, 1977
Drug: Methaqualone, AKA Quaaludes (sedative)
The young comedian, only 22 at the time of his death, shot himself in the head in a Los Angeles hotel room. What was initially ruled a suicide was later changed to read an "accidental shooting due to the influence of Quaaludes."
Elvis Presley
Date: August 16, 1977
Drugs: As many as 14 different drugs, including codeine (painkiller) and methaqualone, AKA Quaaludes (sedative)
The official cause of death of the King of Rock 'n Roll, then 42, was cardiac arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), but it's generally believed that prescription drugs contributed to his heart condition. Although initial statements from the medical examiner excluded drugs as a cause of death, further investigations found that the singer had been prescribed between 5,000 and 10,000 pills in the eight-month span before his death. Presley's doctor, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, explained the singer's open attitude toward prescription drugs: "He felt that by getting [pills] from a doctor, he wasn't the common everyday junkie getting something off the street."
Keith Moon
Date: September 7, 1978
Drug: Clomethiazole, AKA Heminevrin (sedative)
The Who drummer died in London at age 32 from an accidental overdose of clomethiazole, a drug that was being used to treat his withdrawal symptoms as he attempted to break his addiction to alcohol. However, the sedative, ironically, is itself highly addictive, and medical examiners found 10 times its recommended daily allowance in his system at death.
Abbie Hoffman
Date: April 12, 1989
Drug: Phenobarbital (anti-seizure sedative)
Renowned '60s political activist Hoffman, 52, passed away in his Pennsylvania apartment from an overdose of phenobarbital (150 tablets), in what was officially ruled a suicide -- possibly related to his bipolar disorder.
Steve Clark
Date: January 8, 1991
Drugs: Unspecified antidepressant and painkiller
At the age of 30, Def Leppard guitarist Clark was found dead by his girlfriend in his London home. The cause of death was respiration failure due to an excessive intake of anti-depressants, painkillers (which had been prescribed for a cracked rib) and alcohol. Valium was also found in his system, but not an a harmful level. It was ruled an accidental overdose.
Margaux Hemingway
Date: July 1, 1996
Drug: Phenobarbital (anti-seizure sedative)
The 42-year-old model and actress was found in her Santa Monica, California apartment, dead from an overdose of phenobarbital. It was declared that she'd committed suicide, a day before the 35-year anniversary of her grandfather Ernest Hemingway's own suicide.
Rob Pilatus
Date: April 2, 1998
Drug: Unspecified drug, rumored to be methadone (painkiller, anti-addiction aid)
The 32-year-old Milli Vanilli performer, disgraced when it was revealed that he and his partner never actually sang the vocals on their Grammy-winning debut album, died in a Frankfut, Germany hotel room at the age of 32. Although he had previously attempted suicide, his death was pronounced to be from a heart attack due to an accidental overdose of an unspecified medication (rumored to be methadone, ironically used to treat addiction) and alcohol.
Dana Plato
Date: May 8, 1999
Drugs: Carisoprodol, AKA Soma (muscle relaxant), and Vicodin (painkiller)
The Diff'rent Strokes actress, 34, died in Oklahoma from what was deemed an accidental overdose of two prescription drugs, a muscle relaxant and a painkiller. She had a long track record of abusing prescription drugs, as witnessed by her 1992 arrest for forging a Valium prescription.
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Date: November 13, 2004
Drug: Tramadol (painkiller)
The mercurial rapper from the group the Wu-Tang Clan died in New York City just two days before his 36th birthday from what was ruled to be an accidental overdose of a painkiller combined with cocaine.
Chris Penn
Date: January 24, 2006
Drugs: Promethazine (antihistamine) and codeine (painkiller)
Actor Penn, 40, was found dead in his Santa Monica, California home from cardiomyopathy (heart disease), possibly aggravated by the promethazine and codeine in his system. Obesity and an enlarged heart likely also played a part.
Gerald Levert
Date: November 10, 2006
Drugs: Six drugs: painkillers Vicodin, Percocet and Dextropropoxyphene (AKA Darvocet), sedative/anxiety medication alprazolam (AKA Xanax) and two non-prescription antihistamines
Popular R&B singer Gerald Levert passed away at the age of 40 in his Ohio home from what was labeled accidental acute intoxication due to a combination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including painkillers for shoulder and Achilles tendon injuries and Xanax for anxiety attacks.
Anna Nicole Smith
Date: February 8, 2007
Drugs: Eleven drugs, including chloral hydrate (sleep aid) and several sedatives/muscle relaxants: clonazepam (AKA Klonopin), lorazepam (AKA Ativan), oxazepam (AKA Serax) and diazepam (AKA Valium)
The controversial model was 39 when she was found dead in a Florida hotel. After an autopsy, the cause of death was found to be accidental "acute combined drug intoxication," athough the chloral hydrate (AKA Noctec) specifically was listed in the coroner's report as the "toxic/lethal drug." Just five months prior to her death, Smith's 20-year-old son Daniel had died from taking a combination of the antidepressants sertraline (AKA Zoloft) and escitalopram (AKA Lexapro), along with methadone (painkiller, anti-addiction aid).
Pimp C
Date: December 4, 2007
Drugs: Promethazine (antihistamine) and codeine (painkiller)
The Underground Kingz rapper passed away in a Los Angeles hotel from an accidental overdose of a homemade drink, nicknamed "syrup," that is popular in Southern hip-hop culture. Syrup is typically made of prescription-strength cough syrup (containing promethazine and codeine) mixed with benign ingredients like soda or candy. In Pimp C's case, his overdose combined with his sleep apnea -- a condition that causes brief stoppages in breathing while sleeping -- to prevent him from breathing, leading to his death. A long proponent of syrup, Pimp C was featured on the 2000 Three 6 Mafia song "Sippin' on Some Syrup," which helped introduce the public to the practice of drinking cough syrup as an alternative to alcohol.
Heath Ledger
Date: February 6, 2008
Drugs: Six drugs: painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone, sleep aid temazepam and sedatives diazepam (AKA Valium), alprazolam (AKA Xanax) and doxylamine
The acclaimed Australian actor died unexpectedly at age 28 in his New York City apartment. The medical examiner found that "the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications," given the presence of six prescription medications in Ledger's body.
Posted by Seamus Anthony on 20/4/09
Posted by god on 25/6/09
Sippin on some sizurp…I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SAVANNAH.
Posted by michael jackson on 25/6/09
She’s just a girl who thinks that i am the one. But the kid is not my son heee heee (crotch grab) Hey everyone im in hell now. See ya soon! YOU TOO SAVANNAH (>’-’)>
Posted by mario dorado on 25/6/09
Micheal jackson you are the man r.i.p. Bernie mac from chicago my hometown and still is r.i.p man. Pimp c you the man of underground rap we all miss you three six mafia does alot r.i.p
Posted by mario dorado on 25/6/09
Its hard 4 us to swallow these tradjaties and pain this world is coming to an end already its okay though we stil love yall
Posted by Debbie DeCeglie on 26/6/09
Why can’t the doctor’s who give or prescribe drugs to celebrities go to prison and be held responsible?
So sad to all who passed away before there time!!!
God Bless you Michael Jackson and all who died from prescription drugs.
Debbie DeCeglie 6/26/09
Posted by To Debbie on 26/6/09
T0 Debbie:
The people who took the drugs and did not follow instructions did it to themselves. The doctors are not responsible for their irresponsible behavior. Its like blaming the car company for selling a car when someone gets into an accident. It is so ridiculous.
Have a nice life defending the drug addicts.
Posted by XavierDavid on 26/6/09
Doctors should be very careful prescribing controlled “ medications “ to people with addiction potential. The best approach is documenting it and use alternative non controlled medications despite patient’ pressure.
Posted by Blanket on 6/7/09
god damn its sad but Ledger
must had been havin a grand ol time
Posted by hattie shabazz on 9/7/09
Mike Jackson I used him as my oldest son’s role modle and showed him he did not have to be light of skin and have green eyes to be beautiful. He as a pre-teen loved his dancing style and could do almost every dance he did. He mentored younger boys and loved during it like Mike did, but when Mike was acused as a pervert he stoped mentoring young boy’s of the inner city and they lost an intelligent beautiful young man who tutored as well as mentored. I don’t know how many young men Mike’s problems hurt and kept them away from all young childern but I do know that it kept my sons emostions bottled up inside and even in his 30, he keeps his distance!
Posted by michelle on 12/7/09
Something needs to be don. This is murder in my opinion. These Dr. know the serious side effects, and they seem not to care for human life. I will find a way to do something.. RIP all of you and Michael
Posted by tosha on 22/7/09
It’s so sad that these stars fail so soon! I pray for there family and friends. May they REST in PEACE! love ya MJ!!
Posted by Gary on 17/8/09
To michelle
Such silliness to think that a doctor can control how many pills a patient takes in a day. All they can do is explain the correct dose and warn of the side effects, which they do.
Almost everyone in Hollywood knows all about drugs, both prescription and otherwise including the dangers – more than most doctors.
Posted by level on 4/11/09
The DEA records the scrips filled for all drugs, but especially the controlled ones. Celebs use fake names and doctor shop so it’s hard for the DEA to get a clear picture of who is prescribing what to whom. If the Dr knows the patient is addicted they should be legally bound to report it or at least ethically bound not to write a scrip for them. But these are the same doctors who would cut and cut and cut on MJs face even after everyone knew he’d gone waaay to far.
Posted by Joseph on 6/11/09
Hahaha this is a wierd webgsite
Posted by caller unknown on 23/11/09
Wow, some of these I had no idea about. I didn’t know about Dorothy Dandridge
Posted by BethanySykes on 23/12/09
To Debbie: 26/6/09 – Most of These prescription drugs Like “Vicodin” should only be given out by the doctors for a short amount of time, however, they carry on giving them the drugs, turning it into an addiction for them that they carry on feeding until there dead. So your statement about “you can’t blame a car company…ect” That is a completely different thing altogether, So your wrong there. Also I don’t think most of these people intended on dying from the things that the doctors prescribed for them saying they were “okay.” For Example “Bruce Lee” He wasn’t addicted and look at him…
Posted by TARA on 14/1/10
WELL I PUT IT LIKE THIS IT’S BOTH PARTIES FAULT IN AWAY BUT MORE SO THE CELEBRITIES FAULT BECUZ THEY CAN TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OR EVEN OWN PROPERTY THERE AND BE RESIDENTS AND GET DRUGS FROM THERE AND DRUGS FROM HERE. THEY PROBABLY CANT TRACE ANOTHER COUNTRIES HEALTH RECORDS. SO THEY HAVE BETTER ACCESS THEN WE DO. AND THE STATEMENT FOR THE DOCTORS MONITORING HOW MANY TIMES THEY COME TO PICK UP THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AS WELL. BUT THAT CELEBRITY IS OLD ENUFF TO KNOW WHAT DRUGS TO TAKE FOR CERTAIN PAINS AND WHAT THEY DON’T NEED THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE ALL OF THOSE DRUGS AT ONCE BECUZ THEY LIKE THE HIGH IT GIVES THEM. SEE AFTER AWHILE WEED DON’T GIVE THEM THAT HIGH THEY LIKE SO THEY SEARCH TO FIND THE NEXT HIGH THEN THEY FALL INTO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THE DOCTOR TELL THEM WHAT TO TAKE AND CERTAIN ONES THAT DON’T MIX AND ALL THAT STUFF THEY CANT BE THERE PARENTS AND WATCH OVER THEM. CELEBRITIES NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO MUCH IS JUST TO MUCH. I CAN UNDERSTAND BOTH WAYS BUT THEY CELEBRITY KNOW WHAT THEY R DOING.
Posted by AGONY on 15/1/10
Thefact remains that more and more people are becomming addicted to theseprescription pills and in turn, more and more people are actuallyDYING as a result! It’s easy to sit back and blame her and/or herfamily, but who are you to judge until you’ve “walked a mile in hershoes?” Realistically, there aren’t very many people who have livedsuch a glamorous life, but that jsut goes to show that everyone hastheir demons lurking beneath the beautiful exterior…Perhaps if Brittney had build up the courage to face her addiction,this tragedy could have been prevented. I say perhaps because nobodyknows for sure whether she intentionally commited suicide or if it wasan accidental overdose. There is some good that can be taken out of this though; What withHeath Ledge, Michael Jackson and now Brittney Murphey all dying fromthis same pandemic, maybe people will realise how many people areactually affected by this addiction! People all accross the world,of all ages, races and backgrounds are allowing themselves to becomeaddicted to such powerful painkillers- Not because they wake up onemornign thingin, “I want to become an addict” but becase these pillsare SO addictive, you become hooked before you even realise it andthen before you know it, you’re taking/ snorting/ smoking/ injectingthe pills just to feel “normal” again… It doesn’t take long to feelthe effects of an opiate addiction— trust me…What we CAN take from these tragedies though, is the realization thatwe need to come together and do something to prevent this tragedy fromimposing on more lives!OPen your eyes- open your minds- but most of all, Open your HEARTS!
Posted by ME OREGON on 23/1/10
My husband, almost died in front of me. I left him the next day. He lost his house, our son, and me. finally got sober.
This stuff kills people, but effects whole family.
Its sad just watching my 3 brother in laws die slowing. They are so close to death by pills. They nod off, drool, its sad.
PLEASE GET HELP IF YOU NEED, IT.
ITS HARD, BUT YOUR WORTH IT
Posted by chanel on 31/1/10
r.i.p 2 da most guddiest rapper eva..pimp c
Posted by Aaron on 4/2/10
I say pray for all the addicts out there…i’m an addict, i take methadone everyday to curve my addiction to opiates, it’s hard once your an addict to stop using..really hard…R.I.P Michael Jackson and all those who have died or will die because of drugs…….
Posted by Rakel Damp on 9/2/10
What an pill thriller it’s hard to really know what about how and when.
Keep up the good workd!
Posted by dh on 11/2/10
pimp c is a beast
Posted by dh on 11/2/10
aaron you need help. get yo life together! you can do it. you need to be prayin fo you self. dueces2!
Posted by raeanne on 19/2/10
this is bull i dont like any of this it is soo gay anymore i hate drug and drug abusers
Posted by Jessica on 22/2/10
Michael Jackson is my idol <3 he will forever live in our heats xx
Posted by jonathan on 23/2/10
u fake ass rappers thts what u get hahahahahahahahahahaha
Posted by nessers on 26/2/10
i work at a pharmacy and see this every day, im keepin track of the people and catching all the abusers state narcs baby theyll get you and im helping them
Posted by mad on 10/3/10
I feel sad, people dieing to relieve pain and people defending the things that do it. Cannabis has never killed a living thing and relieves all kinds of pain but will never be allowed to be used while people are brainwashed into thinking these synthetic, man made cash cows are the real cure. I encourage people to find the truth to cannabis and help a lot of people feel better, safely. (note i haven’t take cannabis since I began my service).
Posted by Jenni on 14/3/10
its sad that people lean on drugs to take pain away!!
Posted by Jenni on 14/3/10
its sad that people lean on drugs to take pain away!!
Posted by Letterman on 21/3/10
these pills are plentiful and many start after an injury or surgery. It doesn’t matter if they are addicted or just physically dependent. Over time it takes more and more meds to feel normal. These addicts need help they don’t need jail. You can’t just go cold Turkey if you are on Oxycontin as you can die from it. You need treatment, you need help.
Posted by god on 23/3/10
who gives a damn get rid of them all
Posted by Cami on 24/3/10
How can the loved ones of drug addicts stop them when it is made perfectly legal for pain clinics to prescribe powerful combinations in huge quantities of narcotics? It was bad enough when the addicts were dealing with illegal drug dealers, now in Florida there are more legal drug dealers “Pain Clinics” than McDonalds.
They are making money hand over fist, legally, dealing narcotics. I would love to see a count of how many overdose deaths occurred as a result of prescriptions over street drugs. Here we are just talking about the famous people. How many unknowns die each day from this?
It is outrageous that the loophole in Florida which allows this is not closed.
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2010/03/broward_county_more_pain_clinics_than_mcdonalds.php
Posted by BennyBOOM on 1/4/10
The people commenting on this page are retarded. MJ isnt even on here! Most of these are SUICIDES and not so much over doses. Jimi Hendrix for one was a suicide. He was dead several hours before the ambulance even got there. One of his friends that was a famous musician at the time said “Jimi knew what he could take safly, and I know it was a suicide” after that interview the head of the BBC told the artist that he would never make another album and that ruined his career. Its sad to see someone with that much talent do something like that because his manager fucked him over and all the other bullshit. Rest In Paradise.
Posted by Patrick on 6/4/10
Private health care kills.
Posted by Dödsdroger och Psykdroger on 23/4/10
Terrible and so sad to see so many beautiful people just die from such a death-drugs
Posted by tramadolipv on 17/6/10
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