Michael Jackson Oxycontin and Demerol: Lethal Combination

Dr. Leveque, our resident pharmacology/toxicology expert medical writer, predicted that the combination of several central nervous system depressants, depressed the respiratory center which is most sensitive, which then depressed the cardiac center, resulting in a heart stopping, which is what killed Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson's image from a time when almost everyone thought he was the coolest thing around. He brought cultures together and performed in the name of being a better person.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Michael Jackson's sudden death brings to the headlines the well-known danger of mixing two very strong pain killers whose main adverse side actions are respiratory depression. The effectiveness of these two as pain killers is well-known.

To see his dancing gyrations was astonishing for physical endurance. If he had any kind of pain those would have been impossible without strong pain killers. Even recuperation after such physical activity probably required pain killers for rest and sleep.

Apparently it was known by many that he was an Oxycontin addict. It is also known as hillbilly heroin for good reason. If he was on it for more than two weeks HE WAS AN ADDICT!

If or why he was also given Demerol, an almost equally strong pain killer and respiratory depressant, this could easily explain his death.

The respiratory center in the brain is extremely sensitive to these kinds of pain killers. The double effect is called synergy which means the combination of the two will not give a double effect, but probably five times the effect, making them severely dangerous.

If respiration goes down the brain is further depressed and the cardiac stimulatory center of the heart itself gets less and less oxygen which it requires for continual function.

One source said he complained of chest pains. This could have been from lack of oxygen to his heart from the Oxycontin. The medical response is NOT to give another respiratory depressant but maybe oxygen.

It sounds as if he was given Demerol intravenously which would have been correct if it were a "heart attack" or blood vessel occlusion which it probably wasn't, for someone as energetic as he was while dancing.

I would hate to be Michael's doctor at this time. I predict when the toxicology reports come in, it will be a further shock to everybody involved.

Just like Marylin Monroe, he was a candle in the wind.

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