Warning: Prescription drugs taken for cramps contributed to Brittany Murphy's death

February 4, 2010 - According to coroner officials Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia but anemia and prescription drugs played a role – according to her husband, Murphy was taking the painkiller, Vicoprofen, and the antidepressant, Fluoxetine (also known as Sarafem), which she used to help relieve severe menstrual cramps.

Murphy, 32 and star of "Clueless", was found unresponsive in the bathroom of her Hollywood Hills home on Dec. 20, despite frantic attempts by her husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon Murphy, to revive her.

Simon and Sharon told investigators Murphy had been experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days before she died, had laryngitis, which she treated with herbal tea, ginger, and lemon.

Rumors the actress used illegal drugs or suffered from an eating disorder were discounted by Simon and Sharon saying they believe Brittany's death was due to a congenital heart murmur, a condition that was diagnosed when she was a teen and was properly treated.

It is not uncommon for women and teens to take a combination of drugs to relieve severe menstrual cramps. In this case, those drugs played a role, according to the coroner, in Murphy’s death.

According to Estronaut, a forum for women’s health, when over-the-counter drugs are not enough to treat menstrual cramp symptoms, NSAIDs are available. If prescription NSAIDs don’t work, the website states, in resistant cases narcotic pain relievers can also be used.

The FDA website states that Vicoprofen contains the same dose of ibuprofen as over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs, and is usually used for less than 10 days to treat pain. The OTC NSAID label warns that long term continuous use may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

The FDA reports NSAID medicines may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This chance increases with longer use of NSAID medicines and in people who have heart disease.

Warnings to stop taking Vicoprofen and other NSAIDs if the user suffers from these conditions such as nausea, feeling more tired or weaker than usual, stomach pain, and flu-like symptoms were also found on the FDA website.

The primary cause of Murphy’s death was community acquired pneumonia, with contributing factors of iron deficiency anemia and "multiple drug intoxication," according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

The death was ruled accidental. Murphy died Dec. 20 at age 32 after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home.

A memorial for a foundation in Brittany Murphy's name that had been planned for Thursday was abruptly canceled, with no explanation.

Simon is planning to file a lawsuit against Warner Bros in connection with his wife's fatal heart attack Dec 20, according to media reports.

Simon claims his wife’s death was due to stress caused by Warner Bros' alleged decision last month to cancel a contract for a voice role in the sequel to 2006's animated musical "Happy Feet" and that a month earlier she had allegedly been fired from the set of the upcoming independent thriller “The Caller”.

"Any claim that Warner Bros. Pictures was somehow responsible for Brittany Murphy's tragic death is demonstrably false, reprehensible, and defamatory," a Warner Bros representative said in a statement.

"Despite press reports to the contrary, Warner Bros. Pictures and Ms. Murphy never entered into any deal for 'Happy Feet 2', and thus, there was no contract to cancel," he said.

The actress was laid to rest in a twilight ceremony in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve.

A full autopsy report is expected within two weeks.

Sources:
PEOPLE
Movies.indiatimes.com
ABC News
Estronauts forum for Women
FDA Website