POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: ademas on January 22, 2008, 04:49:15 pm
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...news just breaking on the major news networks.
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I just heard that too on CNN.
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Herewith a link confirming the news. (http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/heath-ledger-dead/2008/01/23/1201024937592.html)
How formulaic! Matty the Damned notes that there was a time when dying of a drug overdose was seen as the height of chic. These days it can only be taken as indicating gross carelessness on the part of the deceased.
MtD
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i'm still planning on seeing the new batman movie but it'll be a little sad watching it knowing "Ennis" has passed away. :(
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Damn, he didn't even get to really enjoy his life.
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How sad. Much too young. I'll never understand it. Earned enough money to do some fun and adventurous things in his life and lo and behold.......drugs are chosen.
:(
Mike M
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He's also left a young daughter, 2yr old Matilda, without her father. I loved his movies. Very sad, indeed.
mum
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Well, mayhap it's time for a round of Rush to JudgementTM here.
Let's see. Heath's stiffening (but no doubt still beautiful) corpse is found in a bed in Whats-her-Name Olsen's Manhattan apartment, a bottle of pills nearby.
In the absence of any firm evidence is this a case of:
1. Accidental overdose;
2. Suicide?
MtD
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Everything I read said that it was his Manhatten apartment. Where did you find that it was one of the Olsen's apartments?
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Remember this is a Rush to JudgementTM so, like with Wikipedia, accuracy is a secondary consideration.
The scurrilous suggestion that it was Miss Olsen's flat was originally published here (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/actor-heath-ledger-is-found-dead/) but altered upon her denial of the claim.
MtD
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Well that really sucks! :'(
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TMZ.com has the best updates. All about that RSS feed.
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Ja, but TMZ is so like "ewww".
MtD
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This is really sad. I am still looking forward to see his take on the Joker in The Dark Knight, but I think I'll always remember him for his amazing performance as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain.
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Looking so handsome in this pic. sigh
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Ja, but TMZ is so like "ewww".
MtD
But honey, where else can you see the body bag carted out on a gurney via flash video?
http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1387531726
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But honey, where else can you see the body bag carted out on a gurney via flash video?
Oh absolutely. I read it, I just don't want people to know I do. It's like admitting you pick your nose, or that you check the toilet paper after you wipe but before you chuck it in the can.
One must maintain a veneer of dignity, after all.
MtD
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very sad indeed.
from what I understand, he was always a bit of a tortured soul.
famous Australians, along with countless less famous ones, seem to have a habit of topping themselves lately.
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One can embrace low brow culture with a sense of decorum. Warhol built his career on that.
Of course, this nuance should not be attempted by the unlearned.
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very sad indeed.
from what I understand, he was always a bit of a tortured soul.
famous Australians, along with countless less famous ones, seem to have a habit of topping themselves lately.
Ah, part of the Blame-Australia-First crew I see!
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Oh Jez... not the first thing I want to read in the morning... :'(
I don't know if I can watch Brokeback ever again...
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I gasped when I opened my yahoo home page and saw that news. So young and so fine. I had the impression that he was depressed because he had broken up with his lady and had to leave his daughter behind this past year. I always thought he did get a little frustrated for not getting that Oscar for his interpretation of Ennis in "Brokeback"... :'(
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Oh bollocks.
Like I have any sympathy for some Hollywood movies star who makes more dough for schlepping around one movie set than I've made in my entire lifetime. My heart bleeds. He should have walked a mile in any of our shoes - bollocks.
Ann
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Like I have any sympathy for some Hollywood movies star who makes more dough for schlepping around one movie set than I've made in my entire lifetime. My heart bleeds. He should have walked a mile in any of our shoes - bollocks.
From what I have read about this man I wouldn't want to be in his shoes either.. alas, it is always not nice to read about deaths of some young folks, famous or otherwise. And he did a good job in Brokehead, and I am thankful for that good cry he gave me during the scenes where he hugged the shirt.
And Ann, shouldn't you be in bed by now... ;)
Hugs, Shaun
(who'll probably still go and finally buy the DVD of Brokeback Mountain nonetheless...)
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Yup. All that wealth, fame and those smokin' good looks must have been agony. No wonder the precious little flower couldn't cope.
MtD
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From what I have read about this man I wouldn't want to be in his shoes either.. alas, it is always not nice to read about deaths of some young folks, famous or otherwise. And he did a good job in Brokehead, and I am thankful for that good cry he gave me during the scenes where he hugged the shirt.
And Ann, shouldn't you be in bed by now... ;)
Hugs, Shaun
(who'll probably still go and finally buy the DVD of Brokeback Mountain nonetheless...)
I always thought I'd be dead by the age of twenty... because I thought my life sucked. I know better now. This guy just doesn't get my sympathy at all. He had the world at his feet and he chose death. Bollocks.
And I go to bed when I'm tired. :D
Ann
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I always thought I'd be dead by the age of twenty... because I thought my life sucked. I know better now.
It seems to me though that those of us who think our lives sucked often live longer.. ;D
It's often the time that we think things are changing for the better than we get hit by a bus or something. So in my case I think I am safe cos whenever I felt my life was heading to a happier place, shits happened.
As for Ledger, he was a fine actor ..
Shaun
(who still gets affected by tragic deaths of famous people)
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As for Ledger, he was a fine actor ..
Indeed he was. He was excellent in Two Hands and made a very convincing drug addict in Candy.
Life imitates art and all that . . .
MtD
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Its so sad when anyone dies, especially a young person. My heart goes out to his family.
I really liked him in Knights Tale and The Patriot.
Teresa
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Well the first "lolhealth" pictures have hit the intahwebs. I'll link 'em and not inline 'em because I'm not a complete bastard. :)
lolheath 1 (http://imago.shagnasty.net/albums/userpics/0011yef1il7.jpg)
lolheath 2 (http://imago.shagnasty.net/albums/userpics/omgtoosoonjc3.jpg)
As always persons of a delicate disposition are advised to click with care.
MtD
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I always thought I'd be dead by the age of twenty... because I thought my life sucked. I know better now. This guy just doesn't get my sympathy at all. He had the world at his feet and he chose death. Bollocks.
And I go to bed when I'm tired. :D
Ann
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. To think that "having the world at your feet" has anything real to do with a person's sense of self worth and emotional well being & happiness is bollocks.
I haven't read the latest gossip to know if this guy indeed "chose death", but I do know that mental health is not dictated by the size of a person's bank account.
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Recently, it was Owen Wilson attempting suicide, now this. I read Britney's gunning for 3rd place too on this sport! Geez, what's happening to these famous folks? They really should try living in our shoes and see if they need a new reality check and a new set of values overhaul already.
Whichever ways, my heart goes out to his loved ones. :-\
Blessed Be !
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And here we all were expecting the news to come about Spears or Winehouse.
Shame.
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I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. To think that "having the world at your feet" has anything real to do with a person's sense of self worth and emotional well being & happiness is bollocks.
I haven't read the latest gossip to know if this guy indeed "chose death", but I do know that mental health is not dictated by the size of a person's bank account.
I'm going to agree with Tim. I think that often another's problems may seem trivial (or their life easy) because they are another's problems (or life) and not our own. I know many people whose life I wouldn't want that are much better off on the surface. Underneath, their emotional issues, level of happiness, etc are ones I'm thankful that I don't have.
David
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Oh Jesus Titty-Fucking Christ! ::)
It's not like you or Youth Pastor Tim knew the guy.
MtD
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I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. To think that "having the world at your feet" has anything real to do with a person's sense of self worth and emotional well being & happiness is bollocks.
I haven't read the latest gossip to know if this guy indeed "chose death", but I do know that mental health is not dictated by the size of a person's bank account.
I'm going to agree with Tim. I think that often another's problems may seem trivial (or their life easy) because they are another's problems (or life) and not our own. I know many people whose life I wouldn't want that are much better off on the surface. Underneath, their emotional issues, level of happiness, etc are ones I'm thankful that I don't have.
David
To be honest, my reaction was more against the cult of celebrity that is so prevalent these days. I don't believe in trivialising the problems of others, but it seems to me that this is exactly what so many of these "woe is me" celebrities do to people who have serious problems in life, but yet struggle on, day after day, without it having to be played out in the media.
~shrug~
Sorry if I offended.
Ann
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He definitely was a beautiful man :( that was far too young to die. Unfortunately he chose the path that led to his death.
I wonder why people who overdose on drugs are always found naked.
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To be honest, my reaction was more against the cult of celebrity that is so prevalent these days. I don't believe in trivialising the problems of others, but it seems to me that this is exactly what so many of these "woe is me" celebrities do to people who have serious problems in life, but yet struggle on, day after day, without it having to be played out in the media.
~shrug~
Sorry if I offended.
Ann
I do know what you mean (and you didn't offend me!). I'm not sure who's to blame for the 'celebrity cult' thing... us (the ones who buy into this crap) or the 'victims' of it - the celebrities themselves. I suppose mostly it's the media and the celeb's promoters who create these images which can never be lived up to.
It's kind of like professional sports and athletes, in my opinion. I mean, so what this guy can play basketball. Should his salary really be $4.xx million? There's a professional athlete in my family and a pediatrician. Guess who makes the most money (by a factor of almost 30X) and works less? I wouldn't want to trade places with either of them... well, maybe for a year to make my few million. ;)
David
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I wonder why people who overdose on drugs are always found naked.
If I die in my sleep, I'll definitely be naked!
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So which part did he play in Brokeback Mountain? My mind is a little hazy.
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To be honest, my reaction was more against the cult of celebrity that is so prevalent these days. I don't believe in trivialising the problems of others, but it seems to me that this is exactly what so many of these "woe is me" celebrities do to people who have serious problems in life, but yet struggle on, day after day, without it having to be played out in the media.
~shrug~
Sorry if I offended.
Ann
I don't find it offensive, but I do find the anti-celeb knee jerkism as horribly tiresome as the mass market celeb worship.
Frankly, I personally find each extreme the same, and I find both of them kind of amusing. It's really an odd dichotomy.
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Australians mourn Heath Ledger
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Shocked Australians were on Wednesday mourning the death of actor Heath Ledger in a New York apartment possibly from a drug overdose, but his family said the death was a tragic accident.
Ledger, 28, the gifted leading man acclaimed for his role as a gay cowboy in the film "Brokeback Mountain," was found naked at the foot of the bed by his housekeeper in what police said was a possible drug overdose. An autopsy is to be conducted.
"We, Heath's family, can confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda," his father Kim said, reading from a statement outside the family home in Perth, in Western Australia.
Ledger's mother Sally and sister Kate gathered with Kim Ledger at the family's suburban home and said they wanted to be left to grieve in private.
"We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well-wishes and kind thoughts at this time," Kim Ledger said.
"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life that few had the pleasure of truly knowing him," he said.
People and neighbors left flowers and cards outside the house where Ledger spent much of December and January on holiday visiting friends.
"What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to his family," actress and fellow Australian Nicole Kidman said.
"I am so upset, I just can't tell you," said Margaret Pomeranz, one of Australia's top film critics.
"It's just such an incredible waste. I mean he is such a talented boy and ... a beautiful soul," she told local radio.
(more (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/entertainment_ledger_australia_col))
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I wonder why people who overdose on drugs are always found naked.
Presumably because they've taken their clothes off first.
The issue that burns Matty the Damned's cherubic arse here is why is Heath so fucking worthy?
The man is dead. So what?
Around the world today 30,000 children starved to death. I don't see a single one of you unctuous blow-hards opining about that in this or any other thread. But we care what happens to Matilda Rose. That's the name of Heath's daughter for those who bothered to look it up.
Several dozen people (of all stripes) died in Iraq and Afghanistan today because they were grunts in the US military or local people caught in the way of someone else's war. But I don't see any sanctimonious posts in their honour.
None of these things provoke you people to weep bitter tears, yet the self inflicted death of a patronised, lily livered actor whose greatest contribution to the world at large is a commitment to vegetarianism and some smoking glares in a Batman remake.
Oh yeah, and he was jerk off fodder for you perverts in a soft-core cowboy porn flick.
At least Jeff Stryker gave you a money shot.
MtD
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Beautiful guy. However, I know first hand that maybe having what other think is a perfect lie, is just a fce, a figment or what real life is when you close the door of your house.
Rest in peace Mr Ledger. :'(
Alex
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Boy, I didn't see this one coming.
http://www.godhatesfags.com/written/fliers/20080122_heath-ledger-brokeback-mountain.pdf
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Hal, that article about those loons picketing Heath's funeral is outrageous. But, does one really expect them to act any different?
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I'm now downloading Heathypoo's first movie as a teen heartthrob, 10 Things I Hate About You.
Please do not hate me for doing this.
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I still don't know if it was an accidental overdose or a suicide.
I, too, am sick of celebrity news and top of the news coverage whenever anyone of any level of celebrity dies or even just walks around without underwear. No question that this didn't deserve the top of the news coverage that it received, but the frivolous takes on the suicide question bothers me greatly.
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I'm now downloading Heathypoo's first movie as a teen heartthrob, 10 Things I Hate About You.
Please do not hate me for doing this.
That's not why we hate you. :P
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The issue that burns Matty the Damned's cherubic arse here is why is Heath so fucking worthy?
The man is dead. So what?
No, not so much "more worthy"...just more widely known on an individual basis than any of the poor little 30,000 starving children you mention. When people pass away that folkd directly know of on here, there ARE threads posted in their honor.
You know, Matty, it's really rich how you can peddle out any sort of OT discussion when it suits you - but are right quick to deride any one else for doing so if it doesn't suit your particular taste.
And for the record: No, I did not know Heath Ledger personally - but I had met his former wife on several occasions in Wilmington.
Philly's right about the anti-celeb knee jerkism being as tiresome of celeb worship.
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I vote for accidental overdose.
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I just think its sad... when anyone passes away...
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It's like Elton John sang about the post-mortem reports regarding Marilyn Monroe...."And the press said Marilyn was found in the nude"...A final way for them to demean a deceased person who happened to be a celebrity.
"And it seems to me that you've lived your life like a candle in the wind........"
:-[ :( >:(
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o noes!
Owen spotted bong shopping (http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=85513&in_page_id=7).
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Philly,
You should try and download Two Hands if it is available online. It is one of Heath's early Australian films. I still reckon it was one of his best. I know everyone raves about Brokeback Mountain, but I found it tedious.
As for the antifags picketing his funeral. Well, there will end up being a few dead antifags that day. The people of Perth would not tolerate such crap.
And, on a final point. I don't buy the 'accidental' death crap for one second. How does one 'accidently' consume too many sleeping pills?
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And, on a final point. I don't buy the 'accidental' death crap for one second. How does one 'accidently' consume too many sleeping pills?
Depends on what else might have been in his system. He had pneumonia. Certain combinations of things like Xanax and Sudafed can create a respiratory shutdown, I think.
Eh...who knows? I'll just wait for the official report. Gone is gone, however it happened.
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For me Heath Ledger transcended any of this age's celebrity obsessiveness.
To call what he did in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN a seamless performance doesn't begin to touch how much it affected me nor how it has continued to resonate for me since then. His Ennis was totally real and quite simply became a part of the fabric of my experience. I'd have to think really hard to come up with anyone else whose work had that effect on me and was such a completely perfect whole.
His death makes me long to be able to call for a "do over" with a different and happier ending.
All of the media and fan "stuff" that is going on around what's happened doesn't lessen the perfect truth and courage of what he did in that film. I've found some of the comments in this thread painful to read. They made me wonder where is the kindness and compassion. For me I expect it will take a long while for the sense of loss about this to ease.
Sadly,
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Philly,
You should try and download Two Hands if it is available online. It is one of Heath's early Australian films.
Thanks hun. I just located it :)
btw, I only picked "10 Things" because somehow I didn't realize he'd done a teen flick, and I have a deep abiding respect for the genre.
Actually I've not seen him in much... saw "Casanova" which was OK for something viewed for free on cable.
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NY Times: Police Give New Details on Ledger Death (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/police-provide-new-details-on-ledger-death/index.html?hp)
Sorry folks, sounds like no evil drug habit. Go eat (possibly) some crow.
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How in the fuck can you NOT call 911 FIRST???????????????????
Talk about dumb ass bitches!
Unfucking believable, really.
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She entered the bedroom and saw him lying in bed. She took a massage table out of the closet and began to set it up near his bed. She then went over to him and shook him, but got no response. Using his cellphone, she used a speed-dial button to call Ms. Olsen in California to seek her guidance, knowing Ms. Olsen to be a friend of Mr. Ledger’s.
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Ms. Wolozin called 911 at 3:26 p.m. to say that Mr. Ledger was not breathing. The call occurred less than 15 minutes since she had first seen him in bed and only a few moments after the first call to Ms. Olsen. The 911 operator urged Ms. Wolozin to try to revive Mr. Ledger, but Ms. Wolozin’s efforts were not successful.
I doubt calling 911 first would have made much difference.
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I've found some of the comments in this thread painful to read. They made me wonder where is the kindness and compassion. For me I expect it will take a long while for the sense of loss about this to ease.
Sadly,
Very sad and unfortunate...Isn't it ?
Ray
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It seems to me, from the latest TMZ blurbs, that this was a very unfortunate situation where he was over-prescribed medication by doctors, though possibly there was also some "doctor shopping" motivation, that's hard to tell. The meds found were: nearly full pill bottles containing the anti-anxiety medications Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium) and Lorazepam (Ativan) were found in the apartment. The sleeping medication Zoplicone (Lunesta) and the sedative Temazepam (Restoril) -- which is used by people with "debilitating insomnia" -- were also found.
All of the drugs were prescribed to Ledger, not to anyone else. The first three are all benzo class drugs, so that kind of doesn't make sense me why he'd be given that variety of the same class, but I also read that some of the meds were prescribed overseas. Of course, when you are in such a field and flying around the world to work you don't have the luxury (excuse the irony) of seeing the same doctor and pharmacist.
No trace of illegal narcotics were found in the apartment.
edit: actually four of those are benzo class meds. I guess if you take enough of them you can die, but I know from... uh, personal experience, that your body can actually handle large amounts of benzos. Restoril, however, is one of the very abused ones as it supposedly the one with the most euphoric sensation, and it's the one with possible respiratory depression in large doses -- I've *surprisingly* never taken this one. Also, the more I read of Restoril that seems the likely problem -- it's the one benzo that can easily lead to death in overdose unlike say, lorazepam and clonzazepam (the latter which is what I take) Oddly, if he was overusing sedatives it could actually have made his insomnia worse, which is what he had been complaining about.
Also, there is a potential nasty interaction of Restoril with an antihistamine, so if he had taken that (though it's not on the list) for his noted recent pneumonia there could have been a problem.
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Also, there is a potential nasty interaction of Restoril with an antihistamine, so if he had taken that (though it's not on the list) for his noted recent pneumonia there could have been a problem.
That was exactly my suspicion - an unfortunate drug interaction. Rotten news all around.
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That was exactly my suspicion - an unfortunate drug interaction. Rotten news all around.
But he's a nasty celebrity. SURELY it must have been recreational drugs!
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Tests on a rolled-up $20 bill that was found in the apartment found no evidence that the bill had been used to handle drugs
I can't imagine what else it could be used for :-\ but it's a friggin tragedy no matter what. He didn't live to see 30 :( It's still hard to believe. I thought he was awesome in Monster's Ball
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I didn't see Monster's Ball, but now I'm going to have to get it. I've taken a variety of benzo's before at the same time (Valium, Xanax and at one point, Ativan was thrown into the mix), but when the lunatic doctor I was seeing who prescribed all those prescribed Seroquil for me to sleep, that's one of the times I kind of dropped out of life.(of coure, there's been several times that was known to happen)
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That is a real tragedy if it was an unfortunate drug interaction.
I wasn't buying the accidental claim previously as I just couldn't see how you could accidently pop enough Xanax to top yourself.
Have you watched Two Hands yet Philly?
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No, I haven't watched it yet. I'm pondering whether I want to burn it to a disk and watch it on my actual TV. Porn on my computer is fine, but not a longer movie.