Medical Examiner: Ledger Autopsy Inconclusive

76. Doing a scene like hanging from a London Bridge at night is a very lengthy process to rig. If Heath was run down and sick in the first place,doing this scene was not such a good idea.

I'm not saying that's what killed him, but another piece of the puzzle that added his weakened state.

He was exhausted and sick as a dog. That's pretty much a known.

Posted at 1:00PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by M.L. from NY

77. #60. He died of a pill/drug overdose. That's why they have to wait 10 days to 2 weeks for the results, just me!!!! Get real!

Posted at 12:40PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by ME

I am not dismissing that possibility, ME!!!! I am saying that an extensive autopsy is not complete. If toxicology tests do not prove cause of death, and if an extensive autopsy has not been completed by then it will be done and it is only on extensive examination of the body organs that a pulmonary embolism can be discovered. Time will tell, either toxicology or further autopsy.

Posted at 1:01PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by just me

78. HE DID NOT OD AND THEY ALREAD SAID THERE WERE NO ILLEAGAL DRUGS I SUSPECT FOUL PLAY, MAYBE? WHY WOULD HE TAKE HIS OWN LIFE? HE HAD A DAUGHTER AND HE LOVES HIS FAMILY!! AND FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO SAY HE WAS ON DRUGS SHAME ON YOU..HES NOT HERE TO DEFEND HIMSELF. HE LOOKS LIKE THAT BECAUSE ACTORS/ACTRESS' WORK 16 + HOUR DAYS AS THE GUY SAID ON LARRY KING LIVE IT MESSES UP THEIR SLEEP SCHEDULE, DUH. SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR THE GUY AND HIS FAMILY!! THIS WAS NOT A SUICIDE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT...SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN HERE!!! MAY YOU RIP HEATH. YOU WERE A VERY TALENTED ACTOR AND WAY TOO YOUNG TO LEAVE US. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TIME!!

Posted at 1:10PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Britt

79. HE DID NOT OD AND THEY ALREAD SAID THERE WERE NO ILLEAGAL DRUGS I SUSPECT FOUL PLAY, MAYBE? WHY WOULD HE TAKE HIS OWN LIFE? HE HAD A DAUGHTER AND HE LOVES HIS FAMILY!! AND FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO SAY HE WAS ON DRUGS SHAME ON YOU..HES NOT HERE TO DEFEND HIMSELF. HE LOOKS LIKE THAT BECAUSE ACTORS/ACTRESS' WORK 16 + HOUR DAYS AS THE GUY SAID ON LARRY KING LIVE IT MESSES UP THEIR SLEEP SCHEDULE, DUH. SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR THE GUY AND HIS FAMILY!! THIS WAS NOT A SUICIDE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT...SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN HERE!!! MAY YOU RIP HEATH. YOU WERE A VERY TALENTED ACTOR AND WAY TOO YOUNG TO LEAVE US. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TIME!!

Posted at 1:12PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Britt

80. he'll be forgotten in a month. gosh!!! i cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 1:32PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by jada

81. This is a sad case of a drug overdose probably accidental but still they need to respect his privacy and not make assumptions till the toxicology reports come back and see exactly what he died of and how he died...

Posted at 1:49PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by KELLLY AND KEITH A

82. An accidental death makes sense- he had an appointment for a massage, and the position/state in which he was found indicate he was preparing for it.

I would have guessed asphyxia caused by vomit, since he was found face-down. But that would have been easily determined- as would any complication from pneumonia such as ARDS.

In fact, using the Pneumonia Severity Index Calculator, a 28 year-old male with no pre-existing disorders presenting a full-blown pneumonia lab would still only have a 26.7% mortality rate.

Reports indicate that he had pill bottles scattered around the apartment, so a drug interaction is likely. There are three possibilities: interaction with an antibiotic, interaction with a painkiller, and interaction with a sleep aid, which Ledger was reportedly taking due to his filming schedule.

-Amoxicillin is the most widely-used antibiotic for bacterial pneumonia. It doesn't interact notably with anything.

-Ibuprofen is the most widely-used painkiller. It significantly interacts with methotrexates, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, lithium and Warfarin- none of which he likely would have been taking, either for their prescribed use or for a 'high'.

-Zolpidem-based leep aids like Ambien react badly with rifampin, which is sometimes prescribed in two or three-course treatments of serious Mycobacterium infections. A clinical trial showed that an individual using a Zolpidem-based drug within 17 hours of rifampin would experience compromised drug pharmacokinetics- in other words, the body didn't absorb as well or keep Zolpidem for as long and it didn't work nearly as well. This could have posed a problem had he taken more Ambien, but his body would have just kept dumping it out.

-Zolpidem and sertraline caused a 43% increase in the Cmax of Zolpidem in one study. This means the short-term absorption of Zolpidem increased by almost half. What's sertraline? It's Zoloft- and we know Ledger was taking anti-depression medication.

Here's my theory: Ledger ingested a dose of rifampin along with his other pneumonia meds, which is prescribed as a once-a-day dose. Within 17 hours afterward, he tried to take Ambien in order to sleep. It didn't work due to the decreased effectiveness caused by the rifampin/Ambien interaction. Within 20 hours afterward, he tried to sleep again- this time taking more than the prescribed dose of Ambien. He also took Zoloft, as he would have daily. For every one Ambien, the body would immediately absorb the equivalent of 1.5. While a Swiss study found that an individual could ingest up to sixty Zolpidem before they might go into a coma, when combined with other CNS depressants, it would take just ten to potentially be fatal. CNS depressants are common- Dextromethorphan is found in cough Robitussin, and Chlorphenamine is found in Dimetapp. And guess what someone with a severe respiratory condition could be taking?

In conclusion: 1 Rifampin + 7 Ambien + 1 Zoloft + Robitussin + Dimetapp = death.

Posted at 2:33PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by MrB

83. Where was Howard K. Stern and the duffle bag?

Posted at 2:46PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by uuuhhooohh!!!

84. Damn it. Lets say he did do drugs, i didnt care cause hes gonna give the best portrayal of the joker that anyone has ever seen. Even better than Mark Hamils version in the cartoon. Point is , i was waiting for him to talk more about his performance as the JOKER when the release date for the film came closer, but that wont happen.

Why couldnt it be BRITNEY, PARIS or LINDSEY instead, no one likes them, and they dont contribute anything to the entertainment business. Sad , but im sure the next headline will be for Britney with her lifestyle.

Posted at 12:22AM on Jan 24th 2008 by Roger

85. I was in shock, then felt sad, because I felt he was more genuine person and genuine about his craft. Not like so many that only think look at me, look at me narcicsstic types. I loved that movie"10 things I hate about you"-very funny! I liked him in the Connor series, The Patriot with Mel Gibson, a lot of his stuff, especially his marvelous voice! He will be trully missed! My hopes and prayers go out to the family! Sincerely, Susie--Duarte, Calif.

Posted at 3:02PM on Feb 7th 2008 by Susie Darlene Bence

86. god bless you heath ledgar ilve you and you will be missed sorry to your family

Posted at 4:31PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by heather

87. WHY IS IT THAT HE IS A CELEBRITY AND EVERYTHING IS DONE SO FAST. I LOST A LOVED TO NATURAL CAUSES, THEY DID TOX SCREEN AND IT TOOK 12 WEEKS, THIS PISSES ME OFF!!!!

Posted at 7:19PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by B

88. WHY IS IT THAT HE IS A CELEBRITY AND EVERYTHING IS DONE SO FAST. I LOST A LOVED TO NATURAL CAUSES, THEY DID TOX SCREEN AND IT TOOK 12 WEEKS, THIS PISSES ME OFF!!!!

Posted at 7:20PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by B

89. WHY IS IT THAT HE IS A CELEBRITY AND EVERYTHING IS DONE SO FAST. I LOST A LOVED TO NATURAL CAUSES, THEY DID TOX SCREEN AND IT TOOK 12 WEEKS, THIS PISSES ME OFF!!!!

Posted at 7:20PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by B

90. This whole situation is just so tragic and sad. He was a brilliant actor who was courageous and fearless in his career and was very humble about being a movie star. He seemed like he was very approachable, down-to-earth and would say hi to you on the street if you recognized him, not throw a diva-fit. My heart goes out to those he loved and the legions of fans who have lost an icon. I hope that his daughter grows up knowing that her father was a well-respected and extremely talented actor who will continue to be missed for years to come, not the MEDIA CIRCUS that surrounded his death. I pray that his loved ones are given space and respect in their grief. My most humble prayers are with them all.

Posted at 8:35PM on Jan 23rd 2008 by Sad Star