EXCLUSIVE: Brittany Murphy's Death A 'Perfect Storm' Of Drugs & Pneumonia, Says Doctor
Posted on Feb 04, 2010 @ 04:20PM
Toxicology expert Dr. Bruce Goldberger told RadarOnline.com that Brittany Murphy’s death was a “perfect storm” of an accidental drug overdose combined with pneumonia.
And the Professor and Director of Toxicology at the University of Florida College of Medicine added he was “not surprised” at the findings, which he compared to the death of actor Heath Ledger.
Dr Goldberger told RadarOnline.com: “Misusing prescription drugs when you have pneumonia increases the risk of a potentially lethal outcome.
“It was the ‘perfect storm’ with the combination of a significant illness and the use of prescription drugs – it was the misuse of these drugs that led to her accidental death.
“Tragically, in this day and age, treating her pneumonia properly should not have led to somebody of Brittany Murphy’s age dying.
PHOTOS: Brittany Murphy Through The Years
“I had suspected that drugs had played a part in her death just as in the Heath Ledger case and sadly today’s findings confirm that to me. The results are consistent with the fact that her family reported that she was not feeling well.”
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office issued a press release Thursday listing the manner of Murphy’s death as accidental and the cause of her death as “community acquired pneumonia.” Other conditions specified were iron deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication. Under the category “how injury occurred” the coroner listed “drug intake.”
As RadarOnline.com reported earlier Thursday the toxicology reports will not be made public for a few weeks.
According to the reportedly leaked notes of an investigator from the coroner’s office, the medications found in Murphy’s bedroom included: Klonopin (anxiety med), Carbamazepine (treats Diabetic symptoms and is also a bipolar med), Ativan (anxiety med), Vicoprofen (pain reliever), Hydrocodone (pain med) , Topamax (anti-seizure med also to prevent migraines), Propranolol (hypertension, used to prevent heart attacks), Biaxin (antibiotic), Methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory), Fluoxetine (depression med) and miscellaneous vitamins. Some of the bottles were full while some were empty, the investigator wrote.
PHOTOS: Friends And Family Say Tearful Goodbye to Brittany Murphy
Murphy died at her Hollywood Hills home on December 20, 2009 at age 32. Her British husband Simon Monjack had said that the 8 Mile star was taking medication to cope with menstrual pains each month.
Dr Goldberger, who did not treat Murphy, added: “Some women have iron deficiencies when they menstruate each month while others just have lower iron levels inherently too.
“This must have shown up as a result of a test for this particular deficiency and that could have been done because of information obtained from her prior medical records or by speaking with the family about her medical history.
AUDIO: Brittany Murphy Mother's Dramatic 911 Call
“Unfortunately, Brittany Murphy was not looking after herself at a time when she was obviously sick.”
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thats horrible to say they just let her die i believe her mom and husband did everything they could to save her.
Posted Fri, 02/05/2010 - 12:45am
THIS IS JUST A SAD SAD CASE. I WATCHED DEADLINE LAST NIGHT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SHE LOOKED SICK IN THE MAKING OF THIS MOVIE. iron deficiency,anemia COULD HAVE BEEN WHAT I WAS SEEING
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 6:12pm
iron deficiency,anemia IS A FEW RESULTS OF A EATING DISORDER ( JUST SAYING) AND HER FAMILY RIGHT THERE IN THE SAME HOUSE AND DIDN'T SEE IT. WELL THEY DID SEE IT. TOTAL NEGLECT OF TAKING CARE OF FAMILY.
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 6:15pm
I wonder if Brooke charlie sheens wife and Brittany who both suffered pneumonia around the same time had been together buying drugs etc. Normally a druggie or old people's disease.....
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 4:47pm
umm Barbie I hope your post made sense to you because I can't figure it out.
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 5:28pm
Kids get pneumonia too
Posted Fri, 02/05/2010 - 2:47am
It is not an old people's disease. If your immune system is compromised you can catch all sorts of things
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 6:29pm
i wonder if she was taking antibiotics for her pneumonia
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 4:16pm
How did she get pneumonia? I'm around her age, living in sunny LA, and I know no-one that young who has had pneumonia, out-of-the-blue like that.
Posted Thu, 02/04/2010 - 3:50pm
Pneumona can be brought on by the flu which her family says she had been dealing with before her death. With some of the meds she was taking, her immune system must have been low and things settled in her lungs.
Posted Fri, 02/05/2010 - 2:50am