THE astonishing array of “strong” prescription drugs found in Brittany Murphy’s bedroom was revealed today as her husband faced questions over her death.
An officer from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s department investigating the 32-year-old star’s death found the medication on her bedside table.
The drugs were made out to Murphy with other bottles, some empty, also made out to her mother Sharon Murphy, husband Simon Monjack and some unidentified individuals.
According to the investigator’s notes, the medications included: Topamax (anti-seizure medication also to prevent migraines), Methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory), Fluoxetine (depression), Klonopin (anxiety), Carbamazepine (treats diabetic symptoms and is also a bipolar medication), Ativan (anxiety), Vicoprofen (pain reliever), Propranolol (hypertension, used to prevent heart attacks), Biaxin (antibiotic), Hydrocodone (pain) and various vitamins.
The actress “had been complaining of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain” for 7 to 10 days prior to her death.
According to the notes, Murphy went into the bathroom at around 7:30am on Sunday and shut the door.
Thirty minutes later Murphy’s mother Sharon went to check on her daughter, opened the bathroom door and “discovered the decedent lying on the floor unresponsive”.
According to the notes, Sharon yelled for help. Murphy’s husband, who was in bed, heard the screams and ran to the bathroom.
Sharon called 911 and Monjack “attempted to revive the decedent by placing her in the shower and running the water”.
The notes continue: “The decedent remained unresponsive and purged her stomach contents prior to the arrival of the paramedics.”
When the paramedics arrived, Murphy was “without signs of life”.
It is expected Monjack will be questioned over his wife’s death. He is one of several people who will be interviewed by the authorities about Murphy’s final hours.
Monjack told the investigator during the 7 to 10 days prior to her death, Miss Murphy complained of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pains but he was not overly alarmed because “she often suffered from severe menstrual pains”.Yesterday LA chief coroner Ed Winter, who investigated Michael Jackson’s death, insisted that Murphy’s death was not caused by drugs as her autopsy was concluded.
But the results of the test were deferred pending toxicology and neurological results, which could take up to six weeks.
One report claimed Murphy was struggling to kick her addiction, which started after she underwent a series of plastic surgery operations.
A friend of Murphy - best known for her roles in 8 Mile with rapper Eminem and Girl, Interrupted - said last night: “Brittany has been living life on the edge. She definitely had a drug problem and we have all begged her to get help.
“A lot of Brittany’s problems were due to poor self image. She wore extraordinary amounts of make-up, tons of fake eyelashes, got her teeth capped, dyed her hair blonde, lost weight – she wanted to be a beauty.”
Actress Kathy Najimy, who worked with her on the cartoon series King Of The Hill, paid tribute to her co-star yesterday as “the sweetest, most talented angel” but added “she got hooked up with wrong people”.
She was reportedly fired from the thriller The Caller, which she had been shooting in Puerto Rico until late last month, and was also recently replaced on Disney’s animated Tinkerbell film.
