Chloral Hydrate; Street Name Knock-Out Drug Primary Cause of Anna Nicole’s Death:

Broward County Medical Examiner, Dr. Perper final rules on the cause of Anna Nicole Smith’s death: a lethal combination of eight prescription drugs combined with chloral hydrate. The overdose has been determined to be accidental, possibly clearing the cloud of suspicion that has hung over the head of Smith’s lawyer, confidant, and lover, Howard K. Stern. Anna Nicole’s death is eerily similar to the death of her iconic heroine Marylin Monroe. It was also determined that Monroe had lethal doses of chloral hydrate in her system at the time of her death.

Choral hydrate is a powerful sedative, and is known on the street as the Knock-Out drug. It is a controlled substance, and is often used in cases of date-rape. Brand names for the drug include: Aquachloral, Aquachloral Supprettes The hypnotic sedative has been prescribed in the United States since the late 1800’s. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, a service of the US. National Library of Medicine and The National Institutes of Health, the drug’s recommended prescription uses include as a short term sedative for insomnia and anxiety, as a pain reliever, and for short term relief of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It comes in three forms: capsule, liquid, and suppository. The drug can be habit forming, and medical advisers warn against its long-term use. Complications from the medication may include extremely low blood pressure and difficulty breathing. The same symptoms reported by those who found Anna Nicole in her last hours. Cardiac arrhythmia’s may also result from toxic use of the drug, however, this symptom has not been cited in the Smith case.

Chloral hydrate is metabolized quickly by the body, and therefore it takes very little time for the medication to enter the blood stream and cause the desired effects. The drug is a central nervous system depressant, thereby causing drowsiness. Medical research has concluded that adverse reactions are more likely in patients taking the drug concurrently with benzodiazepine anti-anxiety drugs, such as Valium and Xanax. Other drugs which react chemically in much the same way as benzodiazepine, like Ambien and Sonata, may also cause complications when used in combination with chloral hydrate.

This drug can be transmitted through breast milk, observations of the results on pup embryos should little to no effect in the growth and birth weight. Some researchers, however, have implicated the drug in long term negative effects on the mental capacity of an infant. As mentioned, the drug is quickly metabolized, and therefore, it passes through the body systems rapidly. Infants tend to metabolize and pass the drug more quickly than adults. The effects of Anna Nicole’s use of chloral hydrate on her daughter, Dannielynn may be unknown for some time. Studies examining the link between chloral hydrate and the formation of cancer in a child exposed to the substance in vitro have provided no conclusive evidence, to date. This is one glimmer of good news for the child, in the event that Anna Nicole took the drug during her pregnancy. Dannielynn is not likely to develop cancer because of the drug.

Having made his statement, Dr. Perper, has officially closed the book on the cause of Anna Nicole’s death. Perhaps more truth will emerge from the inquest into her son Daniel’s death, which happened only months before Anna Nicolle died. Perhaps it will not. In either case, the life and death of Anna Nicolle Smith, the bizarre circumstances surrounding her death may never be closed in the hearts and minds of American pop culture enthusiasts, and Smith fans. Soon, we may be able to read the book, watch the movie, and hear all of Anna Nicole’s secrets from those who knew her, and those who claim to have known her. Nonetheless, questions about the overdose and whether or not it was accidental will likely haunt the minds of American pop culture enthusiasts, just like that of Marylin Monroe.

Though many leave us behind, their legacy never dies.

Sources:

Chloral hydrate (CASRN 302-17-0).” Integrated Risk Information System for The Environmental Protection Agency. 15 Sep 2000.
http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0304.htm

“Chloral Hydrate.” The MedMaster Patient Drug Information Database. 1 April 2003. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682201.html

Mortan, Carol Cruzan. Molecular Action of Popular Antianxiety Drugs Probed.” Focus Online: News from Harvard medical, Dental, and Public Health Schools.
14 July 2006. http://focus.hms.harvard.edu/2006/071406/psychobiology.shtml

Sedensky, Matt. “Smith Died from Accidental Drug Overdose” At&T; Entertainment News, 27 March 2007.
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