Brittany Murphy Had "Large Amounts" of Prescription Meds in Bedroom
Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for IMG
A shocking number of strong prescription meds were found on Brittany Murphy's bedroom nightstand after her sudden Dec. 20 death, according to notes from an investigator with the Los Angeles coroner's office.
According to the notes (obtained by TMZ.com), the medications included Topamax (anti-seizure meds also to prevent migraines), Methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory), Fluoxetine (depression med), Klonopin (anxiety med), Carbamazepine (treats Diabetic symptoms and is also a bipolar med), Ativan (anxiety med), Vicoprofen (pain reliever), Propranolol (hypertension, used to prevent heart attacks), Biaxin (antibiotic), Hydrocodone (pain med) and miscellaneous vitamins.
See how Brittany Murphy's appearance drastically changed over the years
The notes state Murphy "had been complaining of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain" for 7 to 10 days prior to her death.
Around 7:30 a.m. Sunday, she went into the bathroom of her Hollywood Hills home and shut the door, according to the notes.
A half hour later Murphy's mother, Sharon, went to check on her daughter, opened the bathroom door and "discovered the descedent lying on the floor unresponsive," the notes read.
See Brittany Murphy's most unforgettable roles
According to the notes, Sharon yelled for help. Murphy's husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, who was in bed, ran to the bathroom.
The notes reveal that Sharon called 911 and Monjack "attempted to revive the descedent by placing her in the shower and running the water." But Murphy "remained unresponsive and purged her stomach contents prior to the arrival of the paramedics," according to the notes.
Find out what Brittany Murphy's husband said about her sudden death
When the paramedics arrived, Murphy was "without signs of life." Paramedics then moved her from the bathroom to the master bedroom, where they found the prescription drugs.
"A check of the nightstands revealed large amounts of prescription medication in the descedent's name. Also noted were numerous empty prescription medication bottles in the descedent's husband's name, the descedent's mother's name and unidentified third party names," the notes read.
According to the notes, "No alcohol containers, paraphernalia or illegal drugs were discovered."
The notes state that the night before her death Murphy "had consumed some noodles, leftover Thai food, Gatorade, water and tea with lemon."
See Us' photo tribute to stars gone too soon
The notes also say that Murphy had a history of hypoglycemia and was hospitalized in April 2009 for low blood sugar while on location in Oregon.
Monjack, Murphy's husband, told the investigator that during the 7-10 days prior to her death, the actress complained of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pains, but he was not overly alarmed because "she often suffered from severe menstrual pains."
After assessing the situation, the investigator concluded to police that "foul play is not suspected.
An official cause of death has yet to be determined.
Tell Us What You Think
68I woke up that Sunday morning just two days into my own withdrawals and recovery from my Opiate/Norco addiction and to my husband saying "I'm following the News and you know that Brittany Murphy girl, the one you said is a friend of your cousin's?" I got this huge knot in my stomach and replied, "Uh yeah... Omigod, did she die or something?" and when he said yes... I was just in absolute and complete utter shock! Even more shocked into the reality about the effects of the abuse and lethality of opiates (Oxicontin, Vicodin, Norco, Morphine and the list goes on). That could have been me I thought and broke down... Sadly, I was diagnosed with a dehabilitating disease after nearly dying in a hospital from being septic w/infection. After many months of ER visits and unable to manage my pain/symptoms I finally received a rather devastating diagnosis but learned that it was some ways manageable. I was prescribed Norco (each one equal to two 500 mg strength vicodin) for pain. Unable to physically and mentally cope with my disease I first took the Norco for pain... than I took it to prevent the pain... and when I did not have pain I would continue to take this prescribed medication every day because of the high and the seemingly numbing feeling it would provide to me; I felt able to cope. It got to the point where I'd run out of my prescript early (unfortunately I had a doctor that would give them to me early or provide me with higher dosage whenever I asked and even deterred me from getting help when I came to her and asked her not to prescribe them to me anymore)... I'd borrow pills from friends, family and buy from other sources and when I would run out, Iâ??d even resort to the use of oxicontin (a very deadly and scary drug). It took me a year to realize what was happening to me (and many nights on very high overdose levels of prescription drugs, forcing myself to breath and honestly afraid to fall asleep or that I might not wake up) and to admit to myself that I â??am an addict and I'm abusing my prescript drugs; drugs nonetheless... less than two months to the day that I admitted to my husband that I had a severe problem (by then everyone in my immediate family had started to take notice and concern), and I asked him to take control my prescription and hand them to me like a child until I reach the courage to seek help through a place that provides help of detox and recovery. That day came sooner than I thought and Iâ??m so happy I made the choice of life and to free myself, and my family from my addiction; just two days before the death of Brittany! This isn't just some thing (disease and addiction) that happens in Hollywood. People (hundreds of thousands, maybe millions?) everywhere are either dying from or becoming addicted to drugs of all kinds everyday even when it's not at first non-intentional (I became a victim of my own genetic disease and in the process acquired an addiction)... It can happen to anyone and it hurts everyone! I wish Brittany could have saved herself! All I know is that she died at the age of 32 from â??Cardiac Arrestâ?? and that's NOT NATURAL... She obviously died of something disease related, whether it is the drug addiction disease, eating disorder disease, genetic disease; or combination of the three. So very sad, may she rest in peace and that her family finds peace! If you are a person reading this that may think that they may have any drug or disease related addiction or a eating disorder please be strong enough to seek help, and don't live another day in your battle in fear that you may not wake up to see tomorrow... YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There are so many caring and understanding people in recovery clinics or your primary healthcare that can help get you through, and help you to overcome your disease/addiction. I ask that you put your pride and any embarrassments aside and GET HELP NOW AND NOT PUT IT OFF TO LATER... Brittany ran out of time, you do not have to do the same...
i have lots of prescription meds in my bedroom/house too!! doesn't mean ****!
She was neglected by those that were meant to love her. Google 'Chemtrails'.
well first off i'd like to say it looks like she had some health issues her fans dident know about.i know someone diabetic that had severe pain issues(fibro)and has a heart issue due to so many years of being diabetic some dont need insulin there are pill meds u can take for controling insulin but they dident work for me but everyones different....as far as speculation we could go on all day i just know i'd like to send my prayers to her family and i will miss her movies she sure brought alot to the screen i remember her work in girl interupted the most!!!! she could play a part so well she took over the character..
i agree with WMLOVESASIANS...nothings wrong with being a size freakin 2.
She didnt starve to death. Have you people ever seen a starving african person in a drought torn region? They get ALOT SKINNIER than that. TONS skinnier. The starving human body literally eats thru all your body muscle protein before it starves to death. She was not even remotely that thin. She was not DEATHLY thin. Go to google images and look up "starving african" or something. THAT is what starving to death looks like. She doesnt look like that. If you ladies (and germs) really care about starving people.. donate xmas money to a charity destined to feed starving humans who dont have a choice or stop your yapping and whining. What? no? you wont send any money? Yah, I didnt think so, phonies. The reason white american women fuss about thin white american celebrities is because thin celebrities make them feel fat and jealous and it ruins their self esteem. Jealousy is why you overweight chicks prey on thin chicks. YOu spent your lives being called "chubby fatsos" and other horrible slurs.. .and now thin celebrity women have become your scapegoat to bash. Your "revenge" (as it were) for all the years society preyed on you with "fat" slurs. YOU DONT REALLY CARE ABOUT THE STARVING. That is why you have donated ZERO cash to charity to feed the starving. All you really care about is your self esteem... and you blame thin women for your lack of it. See? I'm the woman whisperer. I see thru you. (despite your excessive weight)
SHE PURGED BECAUSE OF HER BULEMIA AND THE PURGING CAUSED HER CARDIAC ARREST ALONG WITH THE LOW POTASSIUM CAUSED BY HER BULEMIA. THATS WHAT KILLED HER. YOU CAN CLEARLY TELL BY THE LAST FEW PICS TOOK OF HER SHE WAS SICK ... HER EYES AND CHEEKS WERE SUNKEN IN. I DONT SEE HOW HER HUSBAND LET THIS GO ON? COULD HE NOT SEE WHAT SHE WAS DOING TO HERSELF? HER FAMILY NEVER CONFRONTED HER ABOUT HER WEIGHT ROLER COASTER..
OK--we can't really speculate on what she might have had-the article says there were prescription bottles from a variety of people--not just her. Drug abuse still can't be ruled out or she could be someone who was trying to treat themselves and borrowed meds from family and friends--not an uncommon thing. If she was on that list above, that alone is enough to kill her-taking all those together. Also, mtb-there is such a thing as a non-insulin dependent diabetic. Sometimes diet is enough to control it. Topomax can also be used for bipolar disorder, but some use it for weight loss--that could be what she was going for. But we won't know until all is decided and also since we don't know how many other people's meds she was taking.
I know four year olds who are on six medicines in that list simultaneously to treat epilepsy and to counter the side effects of the epilepsy medication. Its a serious condition and over 30% of patients cannot get control of seizures on any medication and MANY can only get control on a combination of drugs with horrible side effects such as weightloss, kidney damage, liver damage, anxiety, depression. It is a battle for a quality of life that few people understand. Whatever the reason for her untimely death, rest in peace.
I think it's sick that they printed the list of meds in a magazine. That is her personal business, and the world doesn't need to know about it.
@mtb You don't need insulin all the time you CAN have it with out needing insulin!!!!! Check your medical facts!!!
ummm, MTB, hate to break it to you, but you can be a diabetic and not be on insulin!! where do you get your medical facts?? i have worked in a medical office for 8 years, and there a 100's of diabetics not on insulin AND, my mom is a diabetic, and not on insulin! i hate to be nasty, but please do not assume something like that unless you know!! brittany may very well have had diabetes!! the lack of insulin means nothing!! and to the others calling her a drug abuser, wow!! well, my 21 year old sister is a sufferer of migranes since she was 13, she has been on vicodin, percacet, darvocet, oxycontin, along with many others, and she is by no means a drug abuser!! please stop accusing things that you dont know!!!!! this poor woman lost her life, her family lost a person they loved!! put yourself in that position before you throw out nasty thoughts & accusations!!
Propranolol is not only for hypertension it is also used to treat migraines. It is very saddening that this magazine nor any other publications cared to find out what all the uses for the medicines are. Yes, propranolol was originally intended to treat hypertension but now it is also used for migraines and is in studies to help treat PTSD. I take topamax and propranolol for migraines. The propranolol is better at making the migraine stop in less than 30 minutes.
From the med list it can pretty much be concluded that she did NOT have diabetes, otherwise insulin would have been included.
@ Lala, if you are on Topomax you more then your appetite is likely decreased right? I know mine has been, and I am really tired of these eating disorder rumore when in fact is likely the cross between her diabetis and the Topomax. Also, just because she has them does not mean she took them all at the same time.
@Chris way to over exagerate.. and this has nothing to do with our soldiers! Just because we are comenting about a death does not mean we do not care about our soldiers! As a soldiers wife I support them and everything they are doing for this country. She was not a junkie so stop judging her when you know nothing of the situation. She had a heart murmer, diabetes andobviously migraines as well as anxiety. Plus there are meds there that were her husbands and mothers who also lived in the home! Get a life and stop thinking you are high and mighty
Just to clarify, having a heart murmor does not necessitate a heart problem. Most of us have a benign heart murmur. She does not appear to be on any cardiac glycosides or other typical "heart patient" medications. And as a nurse, her medication regimine does not appear out of the ordinary....the Ativan/Vicodin thing is standard quid pro quo in the medical world for chronic pain patients, as well as adding Prozac to the mix. I wish she would have spoken out about her chronic pain issues while she was alive, she may have given more people hope to know that they aren't alone.
I sure hope, that she didn't have low potassium levels, which can stop your heart musle from pumping blood. No matter what the outcome is, may God be with her and her family.
Johnna, it must be nice to know everything!!!!!LOL.. Just because people take a few prescriptions a day doesn't mean they are abusing drugs and I'm sorry but you don't know everything, so stop thinking you do! It's pathetic.....Brittnay Murphy died and all you can do is bash her and others???? It's pretty sad :o( RIP ANGEL! You'll be truly missed
First of all who cares as she did nothing of note. Soldiers die everyday hero's protecting you and you all could care less. God gained a junkie, not an angel. With that being said, gotta love the Doc who perscribes 1000 meds just because.