Who Killed Heath Ledger?

for the first time I saw Heath Ledger, it is a coincidence. My date and later to-be husband, Nick, took me to see 'The Sixth Sense', finally succumbing to peer pressure to hit the "end of a big surprise. " Until now, 'Sixth Sense' was off the main theater chain circuit and only screening in small suburban independent theater, which led us to experience one of those rare events today: double-feature matinee.'s first film was the '10 Things I Hate About You'.
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Well passed 'teen' movies, even those with Shakespearian-based scripts, we shyly admitted to liking '10 Things'. Wow, I really like the male lead, what's his name? "He is an Australian, you know, " replied Nick. And in typical Aussie-fashion, I was impressed, and doubly stupid now filled with national pride. Another brilliant Australian up and comer to join a rapid increase in order to grace Hollywood screens.
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Well passed 'teen' movies, even those with Shakespearian-based scripts, we shyly admitted to liking '10 Things'. Wow, I really like the male lead, what's his name? "He is an Australian, you know, " replied Nick. And in typical Aussie-fashion, I was impressed, and doubly stupid now filled with national pride. Another brilliant Australian up and comer to join a rapid increase in order to grace Hollywood screens.
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years later, I often grab a DVD filled gloomy afternoon and find myself watching and rewinding the same scene. Over and over and over again. My secret guilty pleasure. Heath sliding down the pole, microphone in hand, singing "You're just too good to be true, I can not take my eyes off of you ..." brass band kicks in. And that charmingly defiant half-run, half-prancing across the school steps. scene is great. It's inexplicable. He just has that old-fashioned 'to factor. I'm not star-struck fan and was never one of those teenagers with movie-star idol posters plastered all over my bedroom walls, but this kid's Got Talent.
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we had no idea. It is not infinite. She ended 22nd January 2008.
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When people who've never met but greatly admire die, I'm sad. But I never cried before. I've never before felt that heart wrenching overwhelming shock that lasted for days after I heard the news. This time it was somehow more personal. As soon as I read a detailed list of the first report on the deathbed scene, I intuitively knew how he died.
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When people who've never met but greatly admire die, I'm sad. But I never cried before. I've never before felt that heart wrenching overwhelming shock that lasted for days after I heard the news. This time it was somehow more personal. As soon as I read a detailed list of the first report on the deathbed scene, I intuitively knew how he died.
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Heath Ledger, himself, admitted that after publication in the world of 'A Knight's Tale' with instant paparazzi-bulb-flashing star, his stress levels increased ten times.
Xanax is the trade name anti-anxiety/tranquilliser generic drug, alprazolam, listed Ledger's toxicity report. other anti-anxiety drug was diazepam, or more commonly known as Valium. These drugs are commonly prescribed class of tranquilizers known as benzodiazepines or simply referred to as benzos.
According to the latest National Health Study, approximately 10 million letter of benzos are written each year in Australia alone with his poor population of 20 million compared to $ 300 million in the U.S.. Many doctors will write a script for benzos faster than a speeding bullet. But the real danger is that too many of them do not know long term effects of these drugs have on your system, so that their patients correct advice when administering or monitoring the dosages, and - more frighteningly - how to manage their patients' benzo withdrawal program.
First of all, this is how benzos affect your body - or more importantly - your brain. Benzodiazepines increase, or improve your brain is the main neurotransmitter, commonly known as GABA. In the end, and it could be as soon as 3-4 weeks if taking a daily dose, your brain will stop producing its GABA and rely totally on the artificial benzo.
GABA is a neurotransmitter important because it affects just about everything else. Primarily, it improves the brain of other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. All brain neurotransmitters have important functions such as voluntary muscle movement, alertness, sleep, memory function, sensory transmission -. particularly galling, and much, much more
The problem is that from this point on your brain needs more benzo as tolerance starts to spiral, and the brain needs higher and higher doses to get the same effect. If the patient does not give the exact dose or management advice, that insidious and often undiagnosed disorder known as benzo withdrawal syndrome (BWS) will start its ugly and potentially dangerous descent.
The problem is that from this point on your brain needs more benzo as tolerance starts to spiral, and the brain needs higher and higher doses to get the same effect. If the patient does not give the exact dose or management advice, that insidious and often undiagnosed disorder known as benzo withdrawal syndrome (BWS) will start its ugly and potentially dangerous descent.
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BWS is known by experts in the field for its severity and prolonged nature. It may take years to fully withdraw from benzos, even with proper care and supervision. Without this knowledge, unaware of the patient may suffer from more than 30 symptoms, usually unrelenting insomnia, severe pain and mood swings. People who have been taking benzos for a relatively short time can experience withdrawal symptoms even while taking the drug. In addition, if you were taking them for a long time and then suddenly stop, Dire circumstances can happen. Or, at least, more pain, more depression and unrelenting insomnia.
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BWS is known by experts in the field for its severity and prolonged nature. It may take years to fully withdraw from benzos, even with proper care and supervision. Without this knowledge, unaware of the patient may suffer from more than 30 symptoms, usually unrelenting insomnia, severe pain and mood swings. People who have been taking benzos for a relatively short time can experience withdrawal symptoms even while taking the drug. In addition, if you were taking them for a long time and then suddenly stop, Dire circumstances can happen. Or, at least, more pain, more depression and unrelenting insomnia.
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When we now read about Heath Ledger, his complaints about his incessant insomnia and possesseion of severe pain, does that sound familiar? Everything points to extreme benzo withdrawal, but no one is saying its dangers. In fact, most doctors, even doctors and hospitals recognize that very little knowledge of benzo withdrawal. Some even refer their patients to drug rehabilitation centers - an absolute no-no according to benzo advisors. Benzo withdrawal is the exact opposite of alcohol or drug addiction street. You do not want to suddenly eliminate the benzo from your body, because they are often in drug rehabilitation. The brain needs a benzo. One must gradually withdraw the artificial benzo while the brain can eventually increase their GABA. Sudden cessation of benzos can cause serious problems such as seizures and unconsciousness.
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When in BWS, counselors advise against taking any medications or drugs whatever. Paracetamol is probably the only thing the body can cope with the pain relief. Nothing else. Even codeine is prohibited. Also, should abstain completely from alcohol, caffeine, all stimulants. There is a strong protocol to be followed and without this knowledge, the patient is easy to put in great risk.
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"Drug interactions: Benzodiazepines have additive effects with other drugs with sedative actions including other hypnotics, some antidepressants (eg amitriptyline [Elavil] Doxepin [Adapin, Sinequan]), major tranquilizers or neuroleptics (eg prochlorperazine [Compazine], trifluoperazine [Stelazine]), anticonvulsants (eg phenobarbital, phenytoin [Dilantin], carbamazepine [Atretol, Tegretol]), sedative antihistamines (eg, Diphenhydramine [Benadryl], promethazine [Phenergan]), opiates (heroin, morphine, meperidine), and, most importantly, alcohol. Patients taking benzodiazepines should be warned of these interactions. If sedative drugs are taken in overdose, benzodiazepines may add to the risk of mortality ."
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The real problem is that there are very few experts in the treatment of BWS, they will not include your local doctor, hospital or clinic drug. However, there are good BWS specialists that can be very useful, but they are usually found in specially funded clinics tranquilizer recovery.
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<] Q] Why? Who is at fault? Who is responsible for eliminating the situation? Why are people who write scripts uninformed about the after-effects and potential dangers associated with benzodiazepines?
Can our beloved Heath Ledger's death would be at least one catalyst that will draw this devastating travesty to the attention of the public to request more information?
I hope so.
REFERENCES:

1 Professor C Heather Ashton DM, FRCP, Ashton Manual, 2002. Available from.

2 Dr. Reg Peart, Board of Health minutes of evidence, the House of Commons, UK. June 1999. "This filing Dr RF Peart, National Coordinator of victims Tranquillisers concerns the nature, causes and consequences of 40 years benzodiazepine dependence, probably the most medically induced health problem of the 20th century. " Available from.

3 Staff Mayo Clinic. How do you feel pain. 2007th Mayo Clinic. Available from.

4 Benzodiazepines. 2007th Reconnexion (formerly TRANX - tranquillizer Recovery and New Existence), Melbourne, Australia. Available from.

5 Charles S. Hirsch, MD, chief medical examiner. New York City Medical Examiner's report - Heath Ledger Cause f Death. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of the coroner. 6th February 2008.
6 Sheila Marikar and Richard Esposito. DEA Research Ledger Overdose, 6 February 2008. ABC News (USA ).
7 Amy Westfieldt & Stephanie Nano. Overdose killed Heath Ledger. 7th February 2008. The Associated Press.