Do you think Elvis needed to take all those pills?
It's been said that he had many ailments, but were all these drugs necessary?
franny
He was said to have pumped Presley so full of prescription drugs in his later years that it ruined the singer's health and eventually killed him, though Dr. Nichopoulos himself claims that he had tried his best to reduce the amount of drugs administered to Presley.
In 1977 alone, Dr. Nick had prescribed 10,000 hits of amphetamines, barbiturates, narcotics, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, laxatives, and hormones for Presley. Dr. Nichopoulos claimed he had tried in vain to reduce Elvis' dependancy, even going so far as to manufacture one thousand placebos for Elvis, but to no avail. Elvis had a multitude of other doctors all too willing to fill his prescriptions, and many times Dr. Nichopoulos reportedly tried to stop this.
Of course he did not need them but Elvis was depressed in his last year or so and I think that was part of why he took them. Also the style of life he led its no wonder he developed a drug problem, plus he had insumiea and he needed them to sleep. This topic comes up way to much and needs to be put to rest. Elvis was only a human being, he had blood running through his veins just like the rest of us.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
I wasn't blaming Elvis, but more the several doctors' who prescribed all these pills..I don't think anyone needs to take 10,000 pills in 8 months time...
franny
Elvis started taking pills in the late 1950's. He took downers to go to sleep and uppers bring himself up again. At that time those pills where not considered to be too dangerous and it was just so easy. If you have to film a movie or want to stay up for a long time, just take a pill and you can have fun as long as you want. If you want to sleep, just take another pill and you can sleep. And the uppers made him losing weight, wich was also important, because Elvis quickly put on pounds (just look at him on some pics from the mid-1960's). And our man liked the way those pills made him feel. It just felt good. And so he took all that stuff. By 1967 it had gotten out of hand, but Elvis somehow pulled himself together again. He didn't stop taking his pills, but he reduced the level. At the end of 1970 he started taking more stuff again and when his marrage broke up he started to use the real havy stuff like Demerol. By 1973 he had come to the point where he needed injections. From that time on he was on the road to death. At some periods he reduced his use (for example during parts of 1975 or by the end of 1976), but mostly it went downhill. He took a lot of downers, wich made him put on even more weight and his eating habits made it worse. Many people (including myself) believe that Elvis was bi-polar, wich is a form of depression. Elvis could easily get bored or depressed and than he took his medication. The more stuff he took the worse he felt and he took even more. By 1977 he was finished. He never would have cleaned up his act, because he had passed the point of no return. Like nearly all addicts he was talking about the big changes he would make, maybe he believed his own words, but of cause there was nothing, that he ever did in that direction. It's sad, that this happened to Elvis, but we have to accept this part of him.
Bi-polar
I think he may have had, from what I read, symptoms of being bi-polar at times but I don't think it was because he was bi-polar. I think it all had to do with the drugs and lifestyle.
Got my family, my kids, my books and my music, I'm good, yeah, I'm good.....
You have to check out this website. Check out the years 1969 and beyond.
A grueling schedule Elvis was forced to do.
Think he couldn't have made it without the pils.
The heavy touring and engagements in Vegas must have killed him.
http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/8605/index.html
He'd be alive had he not filled himself with those pills.
They started with regularity in the army when his seargant introduced him to bennies, (Benzedryne) that keep you awake. He liked the feeling it gave him. After the army he continued taking those and other amphetimines and then sleeping pills and pain pills. By the end he was taking stuff like Dilaudid which is normally given to terminal cancer patients, which he wasn't.
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
Keep in mind, during the sixties and especially the seventies, prescription abuse was running rampant, with plenty of "Dr. FeelGood's" around. Yes EP was required to take some medicine for various ailments, but unfortunately, his intake was out of control.
My opinion is that Elvis didn't get involved with pills just for pure FUN, at least at the beginning.
He started with sleeping pills when he was in the army because he always had problems of insomnia; he also took others kind of pills (given to the GI) to stay awake under the snow, during the night.
If Elvis had wanted to take pills just for fun he would have taken them from the beginning, when he started to tour in the fifties.
When he started he felt that pills could really help him, without any idea to depend on them.
With the years there were others reasons: life style, hard work and, at the end a bit of dissatisfaction and depression....it became something normal for him to face his business and life in general in that way.
I think he realized at the end what he was doing to himself but he just couldn't stop it, maybe because he hadn't enough will power.
It's really sad 'cause without those pills he would have lived more but I think it's really hard for us to understand completely what it meant to be "Elvis Presley"
Last edited by ForeverTheKing; 03-25-2006 at 10:42 AM.
Well said!Originally Posted by ForeverTheKing
My opinion is that Elvis didn't get involved with pills just for pure FUN, at least at the beginning.
He started with sleeping pills when he was in the army because he always had problems of insomnia; he also took others kind of pills (given to the GI) to stay awake under the snow, during the night.
If Elvis had wanted to take pills just for fun he would have taken them from the beginning, when he started to tour in the fifties.
When he started he felt that pills could really help him, without any idea to depend on them.
With the years there were others resons: life style, hard work and, at the end a bit of dissatisfaction and depression....it became something normal for him to face his business and life in general in that way.
I think he realized at the end what he was doing to himself but he just couldn't stop it, maybe because he hadn't enough will power.
It's really sad 'cause without those pills he would have lived more but I think it's really hard for us to understand completely what it meant to be "Elvis Presley"
im sure that if i had to live his life then i would have been on pills as well.
if he was just elvis presley TRUCK DRIVER then he probably would n`t of dabbled with the drugs.
I dont think that Elvis Presley needed any of the pills that he took. Maybe the man had some sickness I'm not aware of, I wasnt his doctor. But him being Elvis Presley, famous, not being able to sleep, etc; just arent valuable excuses for me. From the outside looking in, his main problem was that he was self-destructive.
On the hills of Georgia
Across the plains of Tennessee
I've seen and I've done most everything
That a man can do or see
Do you not think that Elvis needed medication for his intestinal problems like colon and liver?....do you not think he needed medication for glaucoma?....I suppose he shouldn't have taken any notice of his Doctors for diagnosing these problems...perhaps it was all in his mind eh?.....I mean - big deal, so what if you can't sleep just deal with it...there's no such thing as insomnia is there?
Let's just look IN from the OUTSIDE eh?
Self-destructive?...Yes...but only the in the face of self-denial - three pills are better than one...that will cure it!
Do you think not??
"I oughta break you in half!"...
"If you do, you'll have two very short friends!"
Well said, people just think that Elvis took pills cause he was famous or self-destructive, they never EVER would think that maybe the man was ill.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Here is something I found relative to this topic:
The following article and findings were published on January 29th, 1978
Toxicologists based at the University of Utah have completed laboratory studies of
autopsy specimens from the body of Elvis Presley and
have found that 11 drugs were present in the singer's system at the time of his death, The
Tribune has learned.
All of those drugs were consistent with medical treatment, said the director of the Center
for Human Toxicology, Dr. Bryan S. Finkle.
He spoke to The Tribune in an exclusive interview. The center had been called in to
provide a third toxicological analysis of typical autopsy
specimens from Presley's body. He reported, "We have not detected any drug in Elvis that
doesn't have a medical rationale to it–only agents
prescribed for perfectly normal, rational medical reasons."
Dr. Finkle said the singer had not been drinking prior to his sudden death, which
reportedly was blamed on an erratic heartbeat, last Aug. 16.
Efforts by the Tribune to obtain a copy of the report by the Center for Human Toxicology
have not been successful. The center received the
first of the autopsy specimens on Oct. 4, and when The Tribune learned of this Dr. Finkle
postponed requested interviews for professional
reasons as he was acting in a consultant's role and in that, cannot talk in specifics. He
spoke, when interviewed, in general that, yes, he had
been involved in the case and that he found 11 drugs, all consistent with medical
treatment.
Of course, that the entertainer did have prescription drugs in his system at the time of
death has previously been reported. Most accounts
mentioned from eight to 10 drugs.
The Center for Human Toxicology, which has an international reputation among
toxicologists and forensic scientists, was the third organization
called in in this phase of the Presley autopsy. The others were the Baptist Memorial
Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.,and Bio-Science Laboratories,
Van Nuys, Calif. Bio-Science requested the Center of Human Toxicology conduct the third
examination, said Dr. Finkle. While certain
agencies, including the center based at the University of Utah, and the Shelby County,
Tennessee, Medical Examiner's Office, involved in this
story receive public monies, it appears unlikely that there will be disclosure of specifics
about the toxicological analysis.
The autopsy performed was done at the request of the Presley family. In a nutshell, rights
of privacy prevail and the parties appear to have no
legal duty and are not compelled to disclose certain documents, in particular the
toxicological report of the Center for Human Toxicology.
Dr. Finkle, as a consultant in the Presley case, said he wrote a two-page report based on
his findings at the request of Bio-Science. In it he
lists the found drugs, their concentrations and he concludes with an opinion as to the
potential or possible toxicological consequences of
having this number of drugs in these concentrations in a body.
The laboratory results here apparently satisfied Shelby County Medical Examiner Dr.
Jerry T. Francisco that Presley's death could not be
attributed to drug overdose. However , it was learned that the death certificate was signed
before the final Finkle report was mailed. Dr.
Finkle's opinion was solicited earlier by a phone call, and dr. Francisco later said publicly
that the prescriptions drugs found in the singer's
system were not a contributing factor.
The Associated Press, reporting on a press conference Dr. Francisco called last Oct. 21,
quoted the medical examiner as saying that four
drugs were found in significant quantities in the entertainer's bloodstream. They are
Ethinamate, Methaqualone, codeine and barbiturates.
The first two are sedatives; codeine is a narcotic analgesic or milder, secondary pain
killer, and barbiturates are "downers" or sedatives or
depressants.
Dr. Francisco was quoted as saying that four other drugs–the antihistamine
chlorpheniramine, meperidine, morphine and Valium–were found
in what were said to be insignificant amounts.
Meperidine and morphine are pain killers and Valium is a tranquilizer.
Presley was not taking morphine per se; the morphine was a byproduct of the codeine.
The AP said Dr. Francisco said the amount of drugs found in Presley's body, collectively,
would not have constituted a drug overdose. And he
said it was unlikely that the drugs' chemical reactions within the body could have
contributed to his death. He said Presley died of a heart
disease. "Had these drugs not been there, he still would have died." Dr. Francisco was
quoted as saying that the press conference. But at this
time the Finkle report was not in hand. It was not completed until December.
Nonetheless, the death certificate was signed at a point–just prior to the release of the
Finkle report–where tests were sufficiently completed
so that authorities could conclude that the drugs did not contribute to the death.
Officially, Dr. Francisco said in Memphis in October that Presley's death was caused by
hypertensive heart disease with coronary artery
disease as a contributing factor. The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Eric Muirhead, chief
of pathology at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The
autopsy was reportedly most thorough.
While Dr. Finkle would not be specific, he did give some solid information. He said that he
found no Ritalin in the specimens. Ritalin is a
stimulant and a trade name for preparations of methylphenidate. Dr. Finkle said he had
been specifically asked to look for this drug among
other agents.
As a toxicologist and not a medical doctor, Dr. Finkle will not even remotely discuss or
determine cause of death. If he has an opinion he is
keeping it to himself.
The 42-year-old- Presley was found face down on the floor of a bathroom at Graceland,
his 18-room mansion, at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 16.
He had been last seen alive that day about 6 a.m. after playing racquet ball with members
of his entourage. He was a sick man. He had
hypertension and a colon problem.
Efforts to revive the singer were abandoned that day at 3:30 p.m. at Baptist Memorial
Hospital.
The autopsy was reportedly very thorough and careful with several doctors participating.
Dr. Finkle explained that it is routine in any medical-legal investigation for there to be
three facets to a scene investigation of what were the
circumstances surrounding the death; the medical-legal autopsy, and support
investigation in clinical or toxicological laboratories.
And, the Presley case was reportedly conducted along routine lines.
When taken to the hospital, there was reportedly suspicion that Presley died of what might
loosely be called a heart attack; there were signs
of cardiac arrest and cardiovascular blood flow problems.
Autopsy specimens were routinely sent to the laboratory, and it was decided to have two
toxicology labs do the work–the hospital's and Bio-
Science.
Dr. Finkle said, "as far as I know" there was no conflict between the two toxicologists, but
there was some medical opinion differences as to
what quantitative amounts of the drugs might mean relative to Presley's death.
The physician who conducted the autopsy, Dr. Muirhead, did not respond to a telephone
call and letters from The Tribune. Shelby County
Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco responded that the autopsy was done at the family
request and with family authorization by the pathology
staff of Baptist Memorial Hospital. This separated him for authorized toxicology studied
and he is unauthorized to release any reports, he said.
"What we have done," said Dr. Finkle, "is to conduct a routine, complete series of forensic
toxicological analyses on specimens and determine
quantitatively what drugs were present in the victim and in what breakdown and we were
asked what this means: is it germane to his death, did
he die of drugs or didn't he?" said Dr. Finkle.
Presley's illnesses included hypertension, some cardiovascular compromise and a colon
obstruction. He fought a losing battle with a weight
problem for several years. "As a toxicologists, if you ask me why he had the drugs (in his
system), the answer is that he needed them
medically. All the drugs were in a range consistent with therapy and therapeutic
requirements for known conditions of illnesses which he had,"
Dr. Finkle said.
Originally posted by KPM
I don't think any human being could take the amount of pills Elvis took, for the amount of years he did and not have it contribute to ones' health in a negative way...I think Elvis was taking way too many...I think it should have been a priority that someone who truly cared about him, should have stepped in and really try to do something about it...I know it's easier said than done, unfortunately...The following article and findings were published on January 29th, 1978
"Had these drugs not been there, he still would have died."
franny
then you're sure, 0349054, that he hasn't cancer or any terminal illness and he took all those pills for enjoyment and to destroy himself,and it was him to blame for what he suffered cause he was such hardheaded...sorry.. I will never believe this..no way..
0349054: But how do you know he'd be alive today??...Elvis had to take a certain amount of pills due to his reported illnesses and his reported gruelling schedules which involved such reported 'human weaknesses' as insomnia and colon problems - plus, the fact that three pills would solve the problem better than one pill...reportedly - who told him it would not do so?...Not only that, the feeling was great, and it was the kind of feeling that allowed him to cope with the touring schedule...and the Colonel's serious 'Vegas' Gambling problem...I mean, let's face it the 'Honorary' Colonel was...er...a tosser?!
Franny - was Elvis not human like the humans in your opinionated theory?...the likes of Red West, bitterly (?), tried to stop him: "Elvis - What Happened?"?
KPM: Intriguing 'food for thought' article. Let us all read it again...along with "Elvis-What Happened?"...a number of articles in 1977 from the defunct "Memphis Press-Scimitar"...the "Commercial Appeal"...how about some of the UK 'Trashy' tabloids...which articles do you 'bow to 'and 'swear by'?...maybe, it's the 'church' of Goldman or Dee Stanley Presley that you conform to?...how about Priscilla's presumptuous 'dream world' of 1972 to 1977 - the years she wasn't around!...I'm sorry to be sooo controversial but just take the world for what it is - a money-spinning goldmine of...well....er....'true' stories?
NEA.
Last edited by NEA; 03-26-2006 at 12:31 AM.
"I oughta break you in half!"...
"If you do, you'll have two very short friends!"
Thanks for the article KPM.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
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