simon monjack is angry, fat

Over the weekend, The New York Post reported that Brittany Murphy filled a prescription for Vicodin just 11 days before she died. And then took 109 of them. That’s 2.42 vicodin (*) per hour for the last 11 days of her life. Her dipshit husband told Radar the story is a lie, and they might sue the Post because of it.

“Dr. Cohen prescribed the pills to (Brittanys mom).  Dr. Cohen has never prescribed anything to Brittany.  He’s never, ever seen Brittany.”
“This is so defamatory and ridiculous.  It benefits no one when these lies are propagated.”

And yet Brittany did have vicodin (hydrocodone) in her system when she died, so God only knows what this retards point is. Granted I don’t really know how drugs work. To be honest I can barely even form a complete sentence. But a buddy of mine who is a Neurosurgical Resident at The U dumbed down all the stuff in her autopsy for me. Full text here, but here’s (SPOILER ALERT!) the summary…

…that’s a lot of sedative medications, and a lot of drug/drug interactions that can cause serious respiratory depression. It’s a lot of unnecessary medications.

After that he said, “A competent physician would treat her pneumonia, rather than just drown everything with pain killers if you know what I mean.” And I said, “I sure do, haha!”.   And then I nervously laughed some more while praying there would be no follow up question.

(*) Maybe. I at math, as bad as right words.

Propranolol: classically a heart medication for lowering blood pressure with an adverse side effect of also lowering the heart rate. People also take it as a prophylactic agent for migraines. One of the side effects, as it is a relatively non-specific beta adrenergic blocker is constriction of the airways, which could add to airway obstruction, and ventilation compromise if one had say, a pneumonia.

Another off label use is in people with stage fright, speaking anxiety, or to relieve tremor (essential tremor). It’s unlikely that an “otherwise healthy” 30 year old would be taking it for the cardiac reasons, possibly for migraine prophylaxis, but any other reason would be a little odd.

Hydrocodone: your basic opioid (morphine derivative) pain killer. Most times a pain killer is given in combination with acetominophen or aspirin which is why Vicodin is a little different than Lortab.
Central to all is the hydrocodone or oxycodone. Its pretty powerful stuff, and one of the main side effects is respiratory depression if taken in excessive quantities.

Chlorpheniramine/hydrocodone is Tussionex or Tussicaps: basically a cough suppressant, with hydrocodone in it. Unlike your basic Hall’s cough drop, it’s potent, and can’t be purchased over the counter without a script.

Chlorpheniramine by itself is a antihistamine, with side effects mosrly sedation. So the combo of an antihistamine and hydrocodone is a good cough suppressant, but it will knock you on your ass.

Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) is given to relieve bladder irritation. In the hospital, if you put a catheter in someone for surgery, if you’re nice, you can give a little pyridium, it makes it less painful, and calms the irritation once its removed. If you’re taking it at home, its to cool the burning when you pee (for whatever reason). Some people may take it incorrectly for the vagitch etc… Its a fairly benign drug.

Fluoxetine: Prozac, your quintessential happy pill, one of the most commonly prescibed drugs ever. Off label uses include treating bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and occasionally PMS. One of the side effects is that it inbits a group of liver enzymes that is responsible for metabolizing and clearing other drugs. One drug class who’s metabolism is altered by prozac is the beta blockers (propranolol), which causes them to hang around, build up, and do their job/side effects a little too well if you know what I mean.

Dextromethorphan: is also a morphine derivative that is specific to suppress the cough center in the brain. Purportedly has no analgesic or addictive potential. Pretty standard it most over the counter cough syrups.

Methamphetamines: hmm, this is a little difficult to explain anything other than good ol’ get em from the trailer and get fucked up. Some people abuse Ritalin for weight loss/appetite suppressant, but thats methylphenidate, and im pretty sure it’s not metabolized to methamphetamines. Also, fluoxetine has been prescibed to combat meth addiction.

Anyway, to put it all together, thats a lot of sedative medications, and a lot of drug/drug interactions that can cause serious respiratory depression. Its a lot of unneccesary medications, and its almost like someone was trying to treat a viral type “cough/cold” with some pretty heavy medication. I’d like to think that a competent physician would work her up and diagnose and treat a pneumonia, rather than just drown everything out with hard hitting cough suppressants/pain killers.

The meth thing, looks ugly if there is actually meth found. I am unaware of a meth metabolite from a true prescription drug.

This is a lot of drug for a healthy person. If you’re severely underweight/anemic, its fairly toxic.

Hope this helps.