Coroner: Brittany Murphy Had 'Elevated Levels' of Vicodin, But No Illegal Substances

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 25th 2010 06:00PM

Los Angeles Coroner found that Brittany Murphy did not abuse drugs or alcohol. The final report released Thursday states that Murphy had "elevated levels" of Vicodin and drugs from over-the-counter cold medicine in her system, but no illegal substances. Earlier this month, coroner said pneumonia was the primary cause of death, with multiple drug intoxication and a low blood count as contributing factors.

"There is no history of alcohol or drug abuse," the report reads (via TMZ). "The overall appearance of the body is consistent with the recorded height of 65 inches and the recorded weight of 115 pounds. The body appears well developed, normally muscular and slim but not excessively thin."

According to the coroner's findings, the 32-year-old died of community acquired pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication -- which included prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The previous report also indicated that her death was "preventable." TMZ says that her pneumonia was "treatable," but she wasn't taken to the doctor in time.

"This death could have been preventable," Assistant Chief Ed Winter says, PEOPLE reported.

"Murphy was planning on seeing a doctor, but she unfortunately passed away before she did. This was a case of a person with pneumonia who was anemic (having a low blood count) who was taking medication when she should've been getting medical treatment," Winter adds.

In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Brittany's husband Simon Monjack said, "I took very good care of my wife ... She was on an antibiotic and she was taking cough medicine and doing all the right things."

Tags: brittany murphy

Comments

(73)

Thursday 25 February

By mintrubble71

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So she had "elevated levels of Vicodin" in her system, but "there is no history of alcohol or drug abuse". What the f*ck do you call that then?

By lily

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He ment illegal drug abuse....This is a sad story, she over medicated herself and paid a terrible price but she wasnt a doper....just unfortunate.

By Stephen M

She was anemic and had pneumonia which probably also caused her some dehydation which would cause the drug concentrations in her blood to be elevated even if she was taking the medications as directed. It was an unfortunate case of thinking it was just a mild illness. Sad loss.

Friday 26 February

By rein

ITS NOT AN OVERDOSE JUST ELAVATED

By Dance

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It's called you being ignorant about medication, but making assumptions about someone having medication in their system when they died, anyway.

Don't feel too bad, you are not alone in your ignorance. There is a dangerously high percentage of Americans who are also ignorant about medications (especially narcotics) but THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM. These same people go about spreading those very wrong 'facts' to other people.

For instance: I visited a friend's church a few Sunday's ago. At the end of their service they offer the congregation a few minutes to ask for any special requests ('please pray for a friend having surgery' '...family member who will be traveling' '... got laid off and is looking for a new job', etc.). The preacher asked if anyone had any special prayer requests and a lady stood and said "YES, we need to pray against the DEVIL LORTAB!!"

By Stephnie

I'd call it what it is; elevated levels due to dehydration and poor health. Whose to call it anything else? I also call it a shame she seemed to be a sweet individual, she had a peaceful smile. And to go at such a young age.

By Lil

that is called a person taking one for say coughing so hard the head goes off the top and the ribs feel like they're breaking. You can take a narcotic and not be an abuser. Narcotics are given for specific pain levels, and using them for specific pain relief is not abuse.

By garibaldi

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Big deal, so she took some Vicodin. It didn't say 'lethal levels', as if she were some big abuser. It's a pain killer. I have it in my system right now. It was prescribed. It doesn't even make me woozy, so it affects individuals differently. To make her usage Headline worthy is assinine. Too many people in this country self-medicate and that's no secret.

Sunday 28 February

By suzi pullen

U are SOOOO ignorant!!!!!! Have u ever suffered from chronic pain? Than u can make a valid point. But if you haven't, then shut the HEL_!! UP!!!!!!!!!!

By Michelle

vicodin is a cough suppresant, becouse she had elevated levels by no means does that mean she ABUSED drugs, for all we know it was prescribed with the antibiotics so quit assumiming things mintrubble71 you should get your facts straight b4 you critisize someone who cant defend themself you moron.

By MagicAndMyth

AGREED!

By adam

Vicodin is not a cough suppressant its a pain medication but with hwhat was wron with her even a normal dose would seem elevated.

By Debbie

Vicodin(hydrocodone)can be prescribed to suppress cough...It has a form of codeine in it which is a cough suppressant...Take it on a regular basis and see how much you cough...You won't...Prescription cough meds have codeine in them for that purpose....

By agreed

Vicodin IS a cough suppresant. All opiates are cough suppresants. It is another thing they do besides kill pain.

By fritz

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Michelle you are way off on this one- vicodin is a painkiller not a cough suppressant duh!

By KATHY

Vicodin is not a cough surpressent...it is a pain pill....hydrocodone and aceteminophin. Hydrocodone is a codeine derivative and codeine can be used for a cough...but vocodin is prescribed for pain management not cough management.

Whatever the cause may be...RIP Brittany.

By Nancy

Look at how skinny her arms were. If this is not a case of anorexia leading to organs shutting down, I don't know what is. I noticed Brittany Murphy's severely emaciated body a long time ago. She had spaghetti for arms and looked sickly and pale all the time. It got to the point where her hair color was the same as her skin color--not a good look on someone so totally ravaged by the Hollywood anorexia syndrome.

By Tex

Here's what the examiner said: "The body appears well developed, normally muscular and slim but not excessively thin." Looks like you'll have to eat your words, along with everything else in sight.

By tleeann65

They just said that she was thin but not that thin. They just said that about her height and weight. I just wish people would just let the poor girl rest in peace.

By r

your making a diagnoisis by looking at an internet picture, your ignorant

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