More Than Five Drugs Found in Heath's Apartment

61. JACK NICHOLSON's comment about Ambien, I believe, speaks to the real reason why Heath's death occurred. It is unbelievable how many Ambien users have posted stories about the strange side effects of this drug. I used Ambien for a time until the 'BLACK-OUTS' started happening where I would wake up the next day finding spilled food all over the place and even found various of my guns laying about having 'played around' with them. Pretty scary, eh? Ambien will not kill you in and of itself - however - as most medical doctors will explain, the brain WILL shut down and go to sleep whether or not you are awake with eyes open and moving. The sleep state remains.

The possibility that Heath blacked-out using Ambien then, not in full control or cognizant of his actions, overdosed on other prescription medications that DO cause imminent death by respiratory failure.

With pressure from someone big like Nicholson maybe those looking into Heath's death will see the possibility of Ambien being the main contributor.

Posted at 9:35PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by HandymanKanab

62. he may have been allergic to one or more of these, that can cause hiccups, itching, and other reactions.

Posted at 9:36PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by jack

63. Hello, I have EVERYONE of those prescrpitions for severe insomnia....I do not take them all and do not ever mix them, but sometimes the Dr. gives you one and it does not work, so they prescribe you another......Just because people have medications in their home does nt mean you are committing suicide....That is stupid if that is what anyone thinks...

Posted at 9:34PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by hello

64. Come on TMZ. Enough already. Overdose!!! Suicide!!! Pills!!! Rolled up 20 with drug residue!!! Then you have to take it all back when you learn it's false information. How bout a little FACT CHECKING BEFOREHAND.

The way you've treated this tragic story from the very start is beyond disgusting. And leave Michelle and her kid alone for chrissakes.

Posted at 9:37PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Layla

65. its so aggreviating... when you cannot sleep, and you have EXTREME exhaustion like i've had.. you dont think clearly.. one night I was SOOOO exhausted, I called my parents in hysterics, talking out my ass... it was nuts.. he could have tried one thing from one doc.. couldnt sleep.. tried something else..and the combo accidentely killed him

Posted at 9:36PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Shitney Spears Sux

66. I'll miss you Heath... :(

Posted at 9:55PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Jenniffer

67. "# 52. How can anybody be concerned with our troops oversees when a great non-American like Heath Ledger is murdered in this great land.

Seriously folks, get your priorities straight.

...and please, let's pay more attention to the pornification of American than we do losers like Heath Ledger, Britney Spears, and Lindsay Lohan.

Out.

Posted at 9:23PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Anexio"

You're a looser Anexio.... You're dumb ar$e president sent your troops into a war based on lies, a President the people of the USA chose to be their leader.
Heath did not choose to become insomniated, anxious or to have pnemonia. Amerian or not, it is a very sad loss. Pull your head out of your bum and get a grip you turd.

Posted at 9:41PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by AussieD

68. It should be common sense, but when a doctor prescribes a new med, they need to TELL the patient to throw out the old med that the new med is replacing and not take the new med in addition to old one. This is especially important with antianxiety and antidepressant medications.

Posted at 9:45PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Deb

69. Wow.....four benzodiazepines....... alprazolam (the strongest one, short half life), diazepam (very long half life), Lorazepam (normal half life, fairly potent), and temazepam (strong hypnotic, medium half life). I mean, who was the doctor who prescribed all of these drugs or did he go doctor shopping? Judging by these script one can conclude that he was suffering from severe and debilitating anxiety or panic attacks, but I would have left it at using Lorazepam. Benzodiazepines should not be taken for more than three weeks consecutively since your body develops tolerance to these drugs, and withdrawing from benzos can be pure hell!!! I suspect that he died from a combination of alcohol and diazepam/lorazepam/alprazolam which affected his autonomic nervous system.......inability to breath properly, fluid build up in his lungs, heart failure, and death. The snoring that his housekeeper, or masseusse, heard was actually a "death rattle".

Posted at 10:38PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Lorazepam

70. My ex-husband had a terrible sleep disorder. His mood swings were up and down. He was aggitated all the time and he could not stop his mind from racing about absolutely almost everything. Anxiety is really what causes sleep disorders. I feel terrible for anyone who has to deal with a lack of sleep. It really can turn you into a monster. Unfortunately for Heath a lack of sleep caused him to take too many or mixed combinations that were dangerous. While his were prescriptions...OTC drugs kill people every day. I truly feel so sorry for his family. His death was too early and he should have had the chance for a long long life.

Posted at 9:47PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Junie T.

71. Ativan just for one, can cause seizures and seizures can be fatal can't they? Just look up the full side effects lists on each of the drugs we have heard so far was in this poor man's room...

I don't trust people who shill for Big Pharma. When they ignore what even the drug companies admit to, they're just professing their own ignorance. Also, benzos should not be taken more than 2 weeks running, any competent doctor can tell you that.

I hope they look into everything this man was prescribed for the last six months and all of the side effects for each. THEN you can begin to piece the puzzle together.

I met him once. He was a very kind person. Rest in Peace Mr. Ledger.

Posted at 9:48PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Karyn

72. Wow, those are a lot of benzodiazapines for one person. He must have been going through a lot to need all of those and not be able to sleep. So sad. Such a tragedy and a waste. So many good people have overdosed by accident. RIP Heath.

Posted at 9:49PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by sweetthing

73. anna nichole smith, rush limbaugh, etc, etc, etc.

Posted at 9:50PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by jack

74. sweetthing: Some of the antibiotics prescribed for pneumonia can cause lasting, extreme panic and insomnia. Read the research website, www.fqresearch.org

Posted at 9:51PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Karyn

75. The plain & simple fact is, we really don't know exactly what killed the poor guy. But whoever's saying that it's not potentially lethal to mix anti-depressants and sleeping medications is simply out of their gourd-- especially if someone is mixing more than one or two types of each (which, if TMZ's list of meds here is to be believed, is precisely what Ledger had). I'm no doctor, but I can do simple research (just like anybody else here can); add to that a potential respiratory ailment, and this kid was a prime candidate for a deadly accident. I think that's what makes it all the more tragic-- he probably thought that because he was taking prescription medicines that he was safe, and that he could take them however he needed them, in whatever combination he chose. He was wrong, fatally wrong. Even though this certainly wasn't a smart thing to do (obviously), the last thing his family needs is all this wild speculation about rolled-up bills and drug residue and whatever crazy BS "leaks" out about this poor boy's death. When it's all said & done, he was somebody's baby-- and now his baby doesn't have a father. Just remember that.

Posted at 9:53PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by cubalibre