Michael Jackson took 10,000 pills during the last 6 months of his life (update)

The more details emerge about Michael Jackson’s life over the last few years, the more shocking his pill problem becomes. While it was obvious to everyone that he was sickly, it doesn’t seem anyone knew just how bad his drug addictions were. Most of the gossip was always about one mysterious illness after another. In fact, it seems Jackson was probably making himself physically ill from all the pills he took – over 50 a day.

The National Enquirer reports that Jackson took over 10,000 during the last six months he was alive, and their sources say he was, “literally living on drugs.” Police found over 30 different medications in Jackson’s home.

Michael Jackson ingested an astounding 10,000 pills in the last six months of his life! That’s more than 50 pills a day.

The music icon was taking more than 30 different types of drugs “for a variety of real and imagined” problems, according to police sources close to the official investigation – who have disclosed a list of those drugs to the Enquirer.

While a “large quantity” of Diprivan was recovered, “there were also countless vitamins, over-the-counter sleep aids, weight-loss pills, energy pills and supplements of all kinds” the close source told the Enquirer.

Syringes and intravenous solutions were also found at Jackson’s rented mansion, according to the source. “Investigations have learned that bags of IV fluids were used twice daily,” said the source.

“Confidential informants have disclosed Jackson began taking meds intravenously for faster absorption and less impact on his liver and kidneys, which had already been damaged by excessive drug use.”

“Michael Jackson’s drug hoard was extremely lethal – enough to kill a person many times over,” declared Dr. Mary Ann Malloy, a nationally known cardiologist based in Chicago who never treated Jackson.

“Whatever doctors prescribed these drugs for him – or procured them for him illegally – would certainly be wide open to charges of malpractice and even criminal manslaughter.”

[From the National Enquirer, July 20, 2009, print ed.]

It sounds like such a miserable way to live. Who knows if Jackson was making himself sick due to side effects from all the medications he was taking, or if most of them were due to real diseases. Like the Enquirer’s source said, Jackson’s pills were for real or imaginary illnesses. I wonder how many were prescribed for real problems and how many imagined? I can think of very few conditions that would warrant that much pill popping, if for no other reason that at some point the pills can obviously interact. And he was probably living with a host of uncomfortable side effects.

It’s hard to hear much that’s shocking about Michael Jackson, but 10,000 pills in six months is mind blowing. I’d think his pill schedule would have ruled his life. Hopefully the police will be able to track down all of Jackson’s doctors. Not only could some of them have played a role in his death, but I would think anyone who’s prescribing drugs to someone already on so many pills shouldn’t be practicing medicine.

Update by Celebitchy: CNN is reporting that Jackson “took more than 10 Xanax pills a night, asking his employees to get the prescription medicine under their names and also personally traveling to doctors’ offices in other states to obtain them.” They also describe how his family tried to stage an intervention:

Years later in 2006, Jackson was in Las Vegas trying to jump-start his career. Deal maker Jack Wishna, who was helping the singer land a long-running show in Vegas, told CNN the singer would appear “drugged up” and “incoherent” — often so weak and emaciated he had to use a wheelchair to get around.

The comeback shows were canceled because of Jackson’s condition, Wishna said.

Around that time, sister Janet Jackson was so worried about Jackson that she tried to stage an intervention with assistance from her other brothers, two sources close to the Jackson family told CNN Wednesday.

Jackson reportedly ordered his security guards not to let the family members in. He also refused to take calls from his mother, Katherine, CNN has learned.

At the time, the Jackson family released a statement to People magazine denying the alleged intervention. But Janet Jackson was not among the signatories.

Along with the police investigation, which is being aided by the state attorney general’s office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has also drawn up a list of Jackson’s doctors and is trying to talk to them to determine what drugs they may have prescribed him.

Among them are Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson’s dermatologist, and Dr. Conrad Murray, his cardiologist.

Klein told CNN Wednesday that Jackson was addicted to drugs at one point but had kicked the habit.

Murray, who has been interviewed by police, has repeatedly said he will withhold comment until the coroner’s tests are back.

[From CNN]