Heath Ledger Found Dead!!!

From what I've seen on tv, including a videotape they showed of a hotel party he was at, it was either an overdose of cocaine, or an overdose of prescription medications, which he was crushing up and snorting. The video was actually pretty disturbing to watch.

I never got much into his acting, but was definitely looking forward to his role in the 'Dark Knight.' I've seen some pics of him as the Joker. Fcuking insane. That'll be a great film.

R.I.P. Heath.

Hopefully some celebrities will learn from this.
 
BigVrunga said:
Damn...
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Diazepam is generic valium, for those of you who don't know.

I was right. It was prescription medications. I remember the police making a statement about a dollar bill they found, rolled up and with residue. He must've been crushing and snorting his prescription meds.
 
I was right. It was prescription medications. I remember the police making a statement about a dollar bill they found, rolled up and with residue. He must've been crushing and snorting his prescription meds.
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That's too bad - maybe he was trying to off himself...You'd have to either be very ignorant of very crazy to pump your system full of all that crap.
 
MuscleGuyinNY said:
Diazepam is generic valium, for those of you who don't know.

I was right. It was prescription medications. I remember the police making a statement about a dollar bill they found, rolled up and with residue. He must've been crushing and snorting his prescription meds.
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That so called scrunched up note that they found was tested and came back clean for any type of drug or prescription medication. Regardless of how he died, it was an accident, regardless of what they say i just don't see him topping himself. He was a bloody good guy. Just a regular kid from the suburbs of Perth in Western Australia. For some reason his death really bothered me. I've been thinking about it a lot. Maybe because i saw a lot of footage of his family back home. His early death also reminded me of my best mate who died in a freak accident when we were 19. RIP Heath, you will be missed.
 
Australian made said:
That so called scrunched up note that they found was tested and came back clean for any type of drug or prescription medication. Regardless of how he died, it was an accident, regardless of what they say i just don't see him topping himself. He was a bloody good guy. Just a regular kid from the suburbs of Perth in Western Australia. For some reason his death really bothered me. I've been thinking about it a lot. Maybe because i saw a lot of footage of his family back home. His early death also reminded me of my best mate who died in a freak accident when we were 19. RIP Heath, you will be missed.
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+1, sucks that he went out like he did. I really liked his movies, and he seemed like a genuinely good dude.
 
My theory is that the rolled up $20 bill was a tip for the masseuse who later found him unresponsive.

Either way, sad end for an up and coming star.
 
Anyone wanna search to find out what all those prescriptions are for and do? I'm too tired :run:
 
neoborn said:
Anyone wanna search to find out what all those prescriptions are for and do? I'm too tired :run:
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Diazepam is generic valium. It's a muscle relaxer. Hydrocodone has the same idea, but there are blue, green, and white, each possessing a specific amount (in mg) of the actives.

I have no clue about the others.
 
bioman said:
It's "rumored" that he was under much stress lately. He had stated the role of the joker made him lose sleep, but other factors may have been his recent break up with his girlfriend who bore is daughter. Other rumors state he had been a "fixture" in the club scene over the last 2-3 months.

Again..all rumors and all substantiated as of yet.
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Actually, Fox News played a video on the O'Reilly Factor, just about a week or so ago. They played a very disturbing video of Heath Ledger at a hotel party, in which he was discussing and using drugs. I couldn't stand to watch it.
 
Okay, so I decided to do the research because I was getting very curious myself...

Oxycodone: Is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It may be habit forming and should only be taken by the person to whom it was prescribed. Dangerous side-effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. An overdose of Oxycodone can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, slow heart rate, fainting, or coma.

Hydrocodone: Is habit forming. It is possible become physically and/or psychologically dependent on the medication. Withdrawal effects may occur if hydrocodone and acetaminophen is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction in dose. Avoid alcohol while taking hydrocodone and acetaminophen . Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by the medication, possibly resulting in unconsciousness and death. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, pain relievers, anxiety medicines, seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants. Dangerous sedation, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur if hydrocodone and acetaminophen is taken with any of these medications. Symptoms of an hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose may include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, small pupils, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

Diazepam: Avoid alcohol while taking diazepam. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by diazepam. Alcohol may also increase the risk of having a seizure if diazepam is being taken for a seizure condition. Diazepam is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Diazepam is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Diazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms. Diazepam is used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension associated with anxiety disorders. It is also used to treat certain types of seizure disorders and muscle spasms. Symptoms of a diazepam overdose include sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, a slow heart beat, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking and talking, an appearance of being drunk, and unconsciousness.

Temazepam: Temazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia). Temazepam is used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling or staying asleep. Do not drink alcohol while taking temazepam. It can increase some of the side effects, and could possibly cause a fatal overdose. Temazepam may be habit forming. An overdose of temazepam can be fatal, especially if taken with alcohol. Symptoms of a temazepam overdose may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, tremors, a slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizure (black-out or convulsions), or coma.

Alprazolam: Do not drink alcohol while taking alprazolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by alprazolam. Alprazolam may be habit forming. Samples of alprazolam purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. An overdose can be fatal. Symptoms of an alprazolam overdose may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.

Doxylamine: Is used for treating occasional sleeplessness and reducing difficulty falling asleep. Doxylamine is an antihistamine. It works by depressing the central nervous system (brain) to produce drowsiness. May cause drowziness or dizziness. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medications that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking this medicine. Doxylamine will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase the risk of dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Do not become overheated in hot weather or during exercise or other activities because heatstroke may occur. If sleeplessness persists for more than 2 weeks, contact your health care provider. Common side-effects: Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth, throat, and nose; thickening of mucus in nose or throat. Severe side-effects: Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); convulsions; decreased alertness; excitability; fast heartbeat; hallucinations; tightness or pounding in the chest; tremor; wheezing.



All I could think about was all the possibilities of what exactly killed Ledger. I thought of him while looking this up. It really, really bothered me.
 
I can't beleive his doctor prescribed him to all that he was taking. He was so young, and taking valium + 2 pain killers + other benzos? Did he have some extreme health condition that warranted all of these medications?
 
How do these doctors get away from lawsuits from the families? There is no way this dude, or tons of other celebrities need all those meds; yet, they all seem to use them.
 
This is an article from a latest issue of People magazine. I thought that it was pretty interesting. Apparently, Ledger had some serious issues with insomnia and not being able to sleep. One of the main sides noted for almost all of the listed medications is, drowsiness. He possibly took a couple of each, with hopes of it knocking him out into a deep sleep, perhaps? Not realizing the possible dangers. I don't know about you, but this seems pretty believable to me.

Watch for some of the italics.

Inside Heath Ledger's Sleepless Nights
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"New York's Washington Square Park is sometimes a haven for the stray homeless to get some shut-eye, curled up on a bench somewhere. For Heath Ledger, it was a place to roam while sleep evaded him.

"New York's Washington Square Park is sometimes a haven for the stray homeless to get some shut-eye, curled up on a bench somewhere. For Heath Ledger, it was a place to roam while sleep evaded him.

"He would walk early in the morning – around 6:30 a.m. or 7," says retired city-worker Tony Rivera, 52, who walks his dog in the park each day at that time, "because, he said, he always had trouble sleeping. That's why he'd come out so early in the morning."

Once in a while, Ledger, 28, would watch the early-morning chess players in action – sometimes even joining them. He often talked about his daughter, says Rivera, who struck up a chat with the actor during one of his sleepless strolls. "He said it was a great thing, being a dad."

But Ledger's friendly banter with park locals was always punctuated by one recurring complaint: "He'd say, 'I'm very tired,' " Rivera recalls, "and he looked it."

Ledger, the type of actor who immersed himself in his film roles, spoke in a recent interview about how work-related stress gave him insomnia. During the shooting of his last completed film, The Dark Knight, Ledger told The New York Times in November that he often took the prescribed sleeping aid, Ambien, in an attempt to coax himself into a slumber.

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," he told The Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted and my mind was still going." Ledger continued to say that taking one pill had no effect on him. He'd have to take seconds to fall asleep, only to awake an hour later with his "mind still racing."

Ledger's reported hard-partying drinking at all hours of the night may have been another way for him to try and self-medicate himself to sleep. "He partied a lot," one friend of Ledger's told PEOPLE. "He didn't really stop partying. At nights when I was going home, he was just starting. He was part of the New York scene." Another club regular recalls that Ledger would arrive at Manhattan lounge, The Beatrice Inn, at 3:30 a.m., "and he never left until sunrise."

But not home to sleep, it seems. Instead, Ledger would be out for a walk in the park and perhaps he'd play a groggy game of chess with strangers. "He didn't seem to be such a good chess player," recalls Rivera, "but I'm not sure ..."

Ledger, perhaps, wasn't interested in winning or losing. He was just trying to calm his "racing" mind so he could once and for all get some sleep as the rest of the city woke up."



People magazine always seems to be a pretty legitimate source for celebrity news. So, I decided to post this. I find it very bothersome. I do believe that I have a sleeping disorder. I'm just waiting to get health insurance, so that I can see a doctor for diagnosis. I always have such a hard time getting to sleep. Sooner or later, the sun will begin to rise. It starts getting light out side, and I toss and turn in bed. It takes so much for me to fall asleep. Though it's not a prescription medication, I have taken Nyquil Liqui-gels before, just to put myself under a deep sleep. It definitely worked, but wasn't the best thing to do since I wasn't sick. I also had a nack for always partying, especially on the weekends. I'd begin around 8pm and not quit until about 7am the following morning. I just haven't done so in a while because I've been on probation for a few months now. But I also have my newborn son. He makes me think twice about getting wild and crazy again. I need to be here for him.
 
This next article is from Wired Science. He was supposively prescribed all of these medications for two reasons: 1) sleeplessness and 2) depression, which stress can definitely lead to. He and his ex had split, they had a child together, and he was also always very busy, not to mention, he could hardly ever sleep.

My ex and I were together for about 14 months and bore a child together. When we split, I took it extremely hard. I still do. I'd like to at least remain friends with her for the sake of our newborn son, but I can't even see him, only because she has an Order For Protection filed in favor against me. The situation is excruciatingly hard. I could somewhat understand Ledger's pain.

Anyways, on to the article:

Unnecessary Dangerous Drug Combo Caused Heath Ledger's Death
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"On Wednesday the New York Medical Examiner's office released a two-sentence report saying that Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose by combining a frighteningly long list of pain killers and anti-depressants.

It puts to rest the questions about Ledger having committed suicide. But it doesn't answer where he got the drugs, and why he was taking these particular pain killers and anti-depressants, all of which are known to run the risk of serious side effects, according to Rajesh Balkrishnan, an associate professor of pharmacology at the Ohio State University College of Public Health.

"How come somebody as famous as Heath Ledger was prescribed these antiquated medications with serious side-effect profiles?" Balkrishnan said.

The answer maybe be that he was not prescribed them, but got them on the street. For example, incidents of people breaking into pharmacies for the highly-addictive Oxycontin are well documented. Patients only have to take the drug for pain every 12 hours, unlike others that need to be taken every three to six hours. But by simply smashing the tablet, users can foil the time-release action and achieve a high that's been compared to heroin.

And that's just one of six drugs listed by the medical examiner. The others are: hydrocodone (Vicodin), diazepam (Valium), temazepam (Restoril), alprazolam (Xanax), and doxylamine (active ingredient in NyQuil). There are safer options, such as Paxil and Prozac, Balkrishnan said.

All of these drugs are designed to depress the central nervous system in various ways to reduce pain or induce sleep. Depress the CNS too much, and you die.

Ledger also may have gotten the drugs online, or from various doctors. But there's no way in hell one doctor would prescribe all of these drugs at once, Balkrishnan said."
 
Exactly. No doubt he wasn't prescribed all of them at the same time. Regardless, we all know drugs are easy to come by. I doubt it would have been hard for him to source those drugs just like someone might get coke or pot.
 
Australian made said:
Exactly. No doubt he wasn't prescribed all of them at the same time. Regardless, we all know drugs are easy to come by. I doubt it would have been hard for him to source those drugs just like someone might get coke or pot.
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Celebrities always get connections. They also have the money that those connections want.
 
just thinking if you guys never saw the Australian movie he made when he was younger you should check it out. Its called "Two hands". No idea if it made it over to the states but its worth watching.
 
BigVrunga said:
My girl and I watched 'A Knights Tale' over the weekend and we were sad...what a damn shame.
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I saw that on TBS the other day. I didn't really care to watch it, though. I watched it for a few minutes and I felt a strange vibe. It is very hard to believe that Ledger is no longer with us.
 
MuscleGuyinNY said:
I saw that on TBS the other day. I didn't really care to watch it, though. I watched it for a few minutes and I felt a strange vibe. It is very hard to believe that Ledger is no longer with us.
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I know - before when I'd watch that movie, somewhere in the back of your mind you wanted to see another Heath Ledger flick, just because he portrays such a noble/brave/honest guy in that film -kind of a reflection of how his real life personna seemed.

Now, I feel a sense of remorse that such a decent/talented guy left the planet before his time.
 
MuscleGuyinNY said:
Okay, so I decided to do the research because I was getting very curious myself...

Oxycodone: Is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It may be habit forming and should only be taken by the person to whom it was prescribed. Dangerous side-effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. An overdose of Oxycodone can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, shallow breathing, slow heart rate, fainting, or coma.

Hydrocodone: Is habit forming. It is possible become physically and/or psychologically dependent on the medication. Withdrawal effects may occur if hydrocodone and acetaminophen is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction in dose. Avoid alcohol while taking hydrocodone and acetaminophen . Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by the medication, possibly resulting in unconsciousness and death. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, pain relievers, anxiety medicines, seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants. Dangerous sedation, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur if hydrocodone and acetaminophen is taken with any of these medications. Symptoms of an hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose may include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, small pupils, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

Diazepam: Avoid alcohol while taking diazepam. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by diazepam. Alcohol may also increase the risk of having a seizure if diazepam is being taken for a seizure condition. Diazepam is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Diazepam is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Diazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms. Diazepam is used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension associated with anxiety disorders. It is also used to treat certain types of seizure disorders and muscle spasms. Symptoms of a diazepam overdose include sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, a slow heart beat, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking and talking, an appearance of being drunk, and unconsciousness.

Temazepam: Temazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia). Temazepam is used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling or staying asleep. Do not drink alcohol while taking temazepam. It can increase some of the side effects, and could possibly cause a fatal overdose. Temazepam may be habit forming. An overdose of temazepam can be fatal, especially if taken with alcohol. Symptoms of a temazepam overdose may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, tremors, a slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizure (black-out or convulsions), or coma.

Alprazolam: Do not drink alcohol while taking alprazolam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol. Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by alprazolam. Alprazolam may be habit forming. Samples of alprazolam purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. An overdose can be fatal. Symptoms of an alprazolam overdose may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.

Doxylamine: Is used for treating occasional sleeplessness and reducing difficulty falling asleep. Doxylamine is an antihistamine. It works by depressing the central nervous system (brain) to produce drowsiness. May cause drowziness or dizziness. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medications that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking this medicine. Doxylamine will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase the risk of dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Do not become overheated in hot weather or during exercise or other activities because heatstroke may occur. If sleeplessness persists for more than 2 weeks, contact your health care provider. Common side-effects: Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth, throat, and nose; thickening of mucus in nose or throat. Severe side-effects: Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); convulsions; decreased alertness; excitability; fast heartbeat; hallucinations; tightness or pounding in the chest; tremor; wheezing.



All I could think about was all the possibilities of what exactly killed Ledger. I thought of him while looking this up. It really, really bothered me.
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Yeah, this dude had one hell of a party going on! I don't think you can take this combo and think that all will be well, so I don't think it was "accidental".
 
RenegadeRows said:
I can't beleive his doctor prescribed him to all that he was taking. He was so young, and taking valium + 2 pain killers + other benzos? Did he have some extreme health condition that warranted all of these medications?
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Probrably had a different doctor for each script, common practice by pharma-junkies.
 
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