">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
AP Exclusive: Insomniac Jackson begged for drug
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
AP Exclusive: Insomniac Jackson begged for drug
By LYNN ELBER,Associated Press Writer AP - Wednesday, July 1
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson was so distraught over persistent insomnia in recent months that he pleaded for a powerful sedative despite warnings it could be harmful, says a nutritionist who was working with the singer as he prepared his comeback bid.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, said Tuesday that she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan, which is given intravenously.
But a frantic phone call she received from Jackson four days before his death made her fear that he somehow obtained Diprivan or another drug to induce sleep, Lee said.
While in Florida on June 21, Lee was contacted by a member of Jackson's staff.
"He called and was very frantic and said, `Michael needs to see you right away.' I said, 'What's wrong?' And I could hear Michael in the background ..., 'One side of my body is hot, it's hot, and one side of my body is cold. It's very cold,'" Lee said.
"I said, `Tell him he needs to go the hospital. I don't know what's going on, but he needs to go to the hospital ... right away."
"At that point, I knew that somebody had given him something that hit the central nervous system," she said, adding, "He was in trouble Sunday and he was crying out."
Jackson did not go to the hospital. He died June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest, his family said. Autopsies have been conducted, but an official cause of death is not expected for several weeks.
"I don't know what happened there. The only thing I can say is he was adamant about this drug," Lee said.
Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. But Lee said she encountered a man tortured by sleep deprivation and one who expressed opposition to recreational drug use.
"He wasn't looking to get high or feel good and sedated from drugs," she said. "This was a person who was not on drugs. This was a person who was seeking help, desperately, to get some sleep, to get some rest."
Jackson was rehearsing hard for what would have been his big comeback _ his "This Is It" tour, a series of performances that would have strained his aging dancer's body. Also, pain had been a part of his life since 1984, when his scalp was severely burned during a Pepsi commercial shoot.
"The Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno, who's been working out with Jackson for the past several months, said Jackson was focused on health.
"When he was with me, he wasn't different. He wasn't stoned. He wasn't high. He wasn't being aloof or speedy. Never talked about drugs," Ferrigno said. "I've never seen him take drugs. He was always talking about nutrition."
Several months ago, Jackson had begun badgering Lee about Diprivan, also known as Propofol, Lee said. It is an intravenous anesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. It is generally given through an IV needle in the hand.
Patients given Propofol take less time to regain consciousness than those administered certain other drugs, and they report waking up more clear-headed and refreshed, said University of Chicago psychopharmacologist James Zacny.
It has also been implicated in drug abuse, with people using it to "chill out" or to commit suicide, Zacny said. Accidental deaths linked to abuse have been reported. The powerful drug has a very narrow therapeutic window, meaning it doesn't take doses much larger than the medically recommended amount to stop a person's breathing.
An overdose that stops breathing can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide, causing the heart to beat erratically and leading to cardiac arrest, said Dr. John Dombrowski, a member of the board of directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Because it is given intravenously and is not the kind of prescription drug typically available from pharmacists, abuse cases have involved anesthesiologists, nurses and other hospital staffers with easy access to the drug, Zacny said.
In recent months, Lee said, Jackson waved away her warnings about it.
"I had an IV and when it hit my vein, I was sleeping. That's what I want," Lee said Jackson told her.
"I said, 'Michael, the only problem with you taking this medication' _ and I had a chill in my body and tears in my eyes three months ago _ 'the only problem is you're going to take it and you're not going to wake up," she recalled.
According to Lee, Jackson said it had been given to him before but he didn't want to discuss the circumstances or identify the doctor involved.
Londell McMillan, attorney for Katherine and Joe Jackson, talked about Lee's disclosures Tuesday on CNN.
"It's a hearsay comment. It would be inadmissible anywhere in a court of law," he said. "I also wonder why anyone would make a comment about something that they don't have much knowledge about. They didn't see the drug administered. It's again because of the Michael Jackson factor."
Lee said the singer drew his own distinctions when it came to drugs versus prescription medicine.
"He said, `I don't like drugs. I don't want any drugs. My doctor told me this is a safe medicine,'" Lee said. The next day, she said she brought a copy of the Physician's Desk Reference to show him the section on Diprivan.
"He said, 'No, my doctor said it's safe. It works quick and it's safe as long as somebody's here to monitor me and wake me up. It's going be OK,'" Lee said. She said he did not give the doctor's name.
Lee said at one point, she spent the night with Jackson to monitor him while he slept. She said she gave him herbal remedies and stayed in a corner chair in his vast bedroom.
After he settled in bed, Lee told Jackson to turn down the lights and music _ he had classical music playing in the house. "He also had a computer on the bed because he loved Walt Disney," she said. "He was watching Donald Duck and it was ongoing. I said, `Maybe if we put on softer music,' and he said, `No, this is how I go to sleep.'"
Three and a half hours later, Jackson jumped up and looked at Lee, eyes wide open, according to Lee. "This is what happens to me," she quoted him as saying. "All I want is to be able to sleep. I want to be able to sleep eight hours. I know I'll feel better the next day."
Lee, 56, is licensed as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in California, according to the state Board of Registered Nursing's Web site. She attended Los Angeles Southwest College and the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciences in Los Angeles.
Comedian Dick Gregory, who knows Lee and her work, said he believes Jackson's insomnia had its roots in the pop star's 2005 trial on child molestation charges. Jackson's health had deteriorated so much that his parents called Gregory, a natural foods proponent, for help.
Gregory said Jackson wasn't eating or drinking at the time and, after he was persuaded by Gregory to undergo testing, ended up hospitalized for severe dehydration.
But Jackson obviously was healthy enough to withstand the level of medical scrutiny needed to insure him for the upcoming high-stakes London concerts, Gregory said. "That you don't trick," he said of the exams.
Lee, who has also worked with Stevie Wonder, Marla Gibbs, Reynaldo Rey and other celebrities, said she was introduced to Jackson by the mother of one of his staff members. Jackson's three children had minor cold symptoms and their pediatrician was out of town.
Lee said she went to the house in January, the first of about 10 visits there through April, and treated the children with vitamins. Michael, intrigued, asked what else she did and took her up on her claim she could boost his energy.
After running blood tests, she devised protein shakes for him and gave him an intravenous vitamin and mineral mixture _ known as a "Myers cocktail," after Dr. John Myers _ which Lee said she uses routinely in her practice.
"It wasn't that he felt sick," she said. "He just wanted more energy."
Lee said she decided to speak out to protect Jackson's reputation from what she considers unfounded allegations of drug abuse or shortcomings as a parent.
"I think it's so wrong for people to say these things about him," she said. "He was a wonderful, loving father who wanted the best for his children."
___
AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner in Chicago, AP Television Writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report and AP Television reporter Natalie Rotman in Los Angeles contributed to this story.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Jackson's will expected to be filed in courtAP - Thursday, July 2
U2 world tour debuts with Jackson tributeAFP - Thursday, July 2
Fashion designer crashes car into Calif. storeAP - Wednesday, July 1
Fans gather for Apollo Theater's Jackson memorialAP - Wednesday, July 1
Actor fails to win share of 'Skippy' show profitsAP - Wednesday, July 1
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Jackson set for final journey to Neverland: report
The daily grind: Sex for a week boosts sperm quality
'Evil' swindler Madoff jailed for 150 years
Questions mount over Jackson animal kingdom
Hundreds say final farewell to Farrah Fawcett
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Wednesday, 1 July 2009 Iran leader praised amid signs of political purge
Italian train inferno kills 16
Broadband, mobile key to economic growth: World Bank
Airliner crashes off Comoros with 153 aboard
Twenty-six killed in car bomb in Iraq's Kirkuk
Jackson wake eyed at Neverland
Bomb kills 32 in Iraq as U.S. troops leave
| International
|
GM seeks approval to exit bankruptcy as a new company
Indian warships get a breath of fresh air
Qaeda warns France of revenge for burka stance
Beyonce Dedicates Part Of Show To Michael Jackson
The daily grind: Sex for a week boosts sperm quality
Top US commander: Iran still supports Iraq attacks
Michael Jackson Not The Biological Father Of His Kids
China state news agency to air in Europe: official
British economy shrinks fastest in half a century
Pauly Shore Threatens "Bruno" With Lawsuit Over African Baby Adoption Theme
Michael Jackson Left His Father Nothing In His Will
China delays Internet filter: state media
Rights group: Israeli drones killed Gaza civilians
Barak: Too early to declare Israel settlement freeze
| International
|
Ed McMahon Given Standing Ovation At His Memorial Service
The Pirate Bay sold to Swedish gaming group
Diane Keaton Rushed To The Hospital After On-Set Film Injury
Iraqi oil licensing round runs into trouble
Michael Jackson's Personal Doctor Didn't Call Ambulance Because He Didn't Know The House Address
Spain ends probe into Israel's 2002 raid on Gaza
Michael Jackson Owed More Than $300 Million
Three dozen Taliban said killed in Afghanistan
The Cost of Royalty: Britain's Royal Family Cost Increases From Last Year
Diane Keaton Fine After Brief Hospitalization For Blow To Head On Set
British hostages in Iraq 'died from gunshot wounds'
Indonesia premier hopefuls accused on environment
Japan's Emperor to return to Canada after 56 years
Zimbabwe receives $950 mln loan from China
Cisco may take on Microsoft's Office
| Technology
|
China to delay rollout of web-filtering software
Roadside bomb kills soldier in southern Thailand
Amazon, Blue Nile sever Web affiliate programs
| Technology
|
UN chief urges N.Korea to show restraint
DC tax fraud ringleader gets 17 years in prison
AP NewsBreak: SC gov admits additional encounters
Swine flu: Philippine president quarantines self
Roaming phone charges to fall in EU from Wednesday
| Technology
|
Judge: Ono owns copyright to rare Lennon footage
Accused museum shooter still can't come to court
Thai army to provide security at ASEAN summit
Accused Wash. woman: 'dog ate my checks'
Algae in Chinese lake threatens drinking water
AP NewsAlert
US cuts Indonesian debt for forest protection
Administration sends Congress consumer legislation
Colorado sheriff's recruit dies in physical test
China scraps filtering software mandate _ for now
Foreign firms snub Iraq oil industry
Shanghai Airlines agrees to China Eastern merger
China postpones controversial Web filter
AIG selling credit card business in Taiwan
China stock index surges 62.5 pct in first half
Michael Jackson's body to return to Neverland: reports
| Entertainment
|
Koons, with eye for pop, brings Popeye show to UK
| Entertainment
|
Megawati rallies supporters in Indonesia
S.Korea output, investment data lifts rate outlook
Moving van makes delivery to Jackson's Neverland
Disney to boost HK park with $465M expansion
BP and China's CNPC win Iraq oil contract
U2 poised to launch world tour in Barcelona
Avant-garde German choreographer Pina Bausch dies
| Entertainment
|
Jackson's London promoters promise full ticket refunds
Jude Law is set to play Hamlet on B'way this fall
Expert claims to solve riddle of Beethoven's 'Elise'
For some, it did matter if Jackson was black or white
Pirates sell commemorative Michael Jackson DVDs in China
Paleontologists brought to tears, laughter by Creation Museum
EU court thwarts James Bond rights holders in Dr. No case
LA schools chief fumes over `Bruno' school photos
Bomb kills 32 in Iraq as U.S. troops leave
Zelaya vows return to Honduras
| International
|
New US government website tracks IT spending
U2 launch world tour in Barcelona
Iraqis celebrate US pullback but bombing kills 33
Hundreds say final farewell to Farrah Fawcett
France and U.S. join Comoros plane crash search
| International
|
Israeli navy boards activist ship to Gaza
EU travellers to get cheaper mobile phone calls from Wednesday
Top German court suspends ratification of Lisbon Treaty
Bomb kills 32 in Iraq as U.S. troops leave
| International
|
Iran bids to draw line under disputed election
Online video site Joost restructures, changes CEO
All-day party celebrates China web filter delay
| International
|
Israeli navy commandeers Gaza aid boat
Suspected North Korea arms ship changes course
| International
|
Zelaya faces arrest in Honduras as protests rise
Ahmadinejad cancels trip to AU summit
| International
|
Barak: Too early to declare Israel settlement freeze
| International
|
Major attacks in Iraq since Jan. 1
Indonesia's regional leaders attract investors
| International
|
Iraq auction terms deter oil firms, BP wins prize
Clooney sets up at Sony with production company
EPA approves California pollution rule
EU travellers to get cheaper mobile phone calls from Wednesday
All-day party celebrates China web filter delay
| Technology
|
Facts about Sen.-elect Al Franken
French warship rescues stranded family from yacht
GM's CEO grilled at court over "New" company
India sets up regional base for anti-terror troops
North Korea suspect ship has turned around: US official
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 641
U.S. targets North Korea's missile, nuclear activities
Former Texas pastor sentenced in child porn case
Ulysses probe ends 18-year study of heliosphere
China backs away from controversial Internet filter
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,322
Stalemate in Afghan ghost town shows task ahead
Zimbabwe receives $950 mln loan from China
Protesters defy curfews in Indian Kashmir
U.S. targets North Korea missile proliferation network
Japan Inc pessimism drop for first time since 2006
Korea Hot Stocks-Telcos, LG Elec, LG Innotek rise
SKorea's trade surplus surges to record: govt
S.Korea sees exports in recovery phase -official
Michael Jackson gets more bizarre after death
| Entertainment
|
Taiwan dollar at 3-week high on more China opening
O'Neal leads mourners at Farrah Fawcett funeral
| Entertainment
|
S.Korea treasury bonds steady; eyes on data
S.Korea Hana Bank CEO sees Q3 profit after poor H1
Viral video a stealth promo for Robot Chicken
| Entertainment
|
Michael Jackson Suit of Lights glove up for sale
| Entertainment
|
Seoul shares fall after U.S. share loss, data
ABC goes old-media to promote Castle
| Entertainment
|
S.Korea Q2 GDP growth could hit 21-year high
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Aerosmith drummer writes of Hitting Rock Bottom
| Entertainment
|
Family discussing Jackson tribute show: promoter
| Entertainment
|
Michael Jackson "Suit of Lights" glove up for sale
Gravity takes off as ABC series
| Entertainment
|
Jackson family says the singer's will has surfaced
AP NewsAlert
Hung starts big for HBO
| Entertainment
|
Michael Jackson fans dance, cheer his life in NY
Jackson's funeral plans sketchy
U2 open world tour with a bang in Barcelona
Stevie Wonder pays tribute to Michael Jackson
List of top 20 shows in prime-time Nielsen rating
Iran's Karroubi rejects Ahmadinejad vote: website
Death toll from Italian rail disaster rises to 16
Happy 30th birthday, Walkman
Barak says too early to declare Israel settlement freeze
Ahmadinejad's rivals defiant on Iran vote
| International
|
Russia's casinos shut as new law takes effect
Iraqi politicians of all stripes laud U.S. pullout
| International
|
Amnesty slams Russia for rights record in Chechnya
Life in North Korea: lies, potatoes and cable TV
| International
|
Pakistanis turn on Taliban, but resent U.S.: poll
| International
|
Barak links settlement freeze to regional peace drive
| International
|
U.N. team begins inquiry into Bhutto's killing
| International
|
Thousands march in HK for economic relief, democracy
| International
|
Russia bans all gambling and shuts casinos
| International
|
UN chief says climate pact must be finalized
Happy 30th birthday, Walkman
Clooney smokes out new production home at Sony
Israel's Barak downplays US settlement dispute
Tens of thousands march for democracy in Hong Kong
$1.2 billion in debts canceled to help Haiti
Malaysia's Anwar confident opposition will survive
Fiji army chief promises new constitution by 2013
KRouge survivor confronts jail boss on wife's fate
Gates says he wants to soften gay expulsion rules
Australians split biggest-ever lottery win
Microsoft's Bing search wins share from Google
| Technology
|
Source: NKorean ship headed back to north
Bomb blast kills one person in NW Pakistan: police
AP sources: Group sends Sotomayor docs to Senate
Jackson's will to be filed in court Wednesday
N.Korean ship tracked by U.S. Navy reverses course
Israel considering options to promote peace
Claro Cortes, former AP Manila reporter, dies
Democrat Franken wins protracted Minn. Senate race
UN chief says climate pact must be finalized
Sweden's Global Gaming snaps up Pirate Bay
| Technology
|
Thai inflation in June contracts by 4 pct: govt
All Nippon Airways plans capital boost: reports
GM vehicle sales in China soar
China says manufacturing continues to expand
S.Korea President calls for bold coporate investment
NZ employee sentiment less negative in Q2
Jerusalem Palestinians face no-win housing choice
Chinese cheese lover tries to win over Beijing
Indian heritage architecture is 'nobody's baby'
Actor fails to win share of 'Skippy' show profits
AP Exclusive: Insomniac Jackson begged for drug
Farrah Fawcett's life celebrated at LA funeral
Josh Turner announces birth of his second son
Tunisian Astrologist 'Predicted Michael Jackson's Death'
Study Finds Daily Sex Improves Men's Fertility By Producing Quality Sperm
Blackberry Saves Skier From Falling Into Crevasse
Johnny Depp Admits Fascination With Gangsters
George Clooney Latest Victim Of Bogus Actor Death Prank
Nepal Requires Pocketless Uniform On Airport Workers To Stop Bribe-Taking
Britain's Queen Elizabeth Orders Staff To Count Her Swans
Pope: Remains Of St. Paul The Apostle Identified
Arab Princess Is Undercover Cover Cop
Michael Jackson's Body Could Be Displayed In A Glass Coffin
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights