Michael Jackson: King of Insomnia

One year ago Michael Jackson was preparing for his London comeback shows, rehearsing at Staples Center in Los Angeles and apparently, not getting enough sleep. According to published reports, Jackson had a light dinner at his rented Holmby Hills mansion with his children on June 24th, 2009, the last time they would see him alive. Then he headed off to the downtown Los Angeles arena to stage the first dress rehearsals of tunes like "Thriller" and "Billie Jean."
Those who saw and participated in the performances recalled that Jackson seemed in good shape and high spirits when he left around midnight. No one had any idea of the tragedy that awaited the self-proclaimed King of Pop.

When Jackson arrived home he began complaining of fatigue and the need to sleep, a common malady among entertainers who find it difficult to wind down after the "high" of performing, even in rehearsals. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, gave Jackson a 10 milligram Valium tablet but Jackson remained awake. A half-hour later Dr. Murray provided Jackson with 2 milligrams of the sedative lorazepam administered through a saline drip. Despite this medication that would have put a horse to sleep, the drugs had no effect on the singer. The doctor tried a 2-milligram dose of midazolam at 3am and another 2 milligrams of lorazepam at 5am. By the time the sun had risen on the fateful day of June 25th, Jackson was lying restlessly on the sheets of his Renaissance-style double bed. He began asking for the drug propofol.

Propofol is a powerful anesthetic used by doctors to put a patient "under" - to "knock them out" during surgeries. Special equipment and a specialist are usually required to administer the drug. Dr. Murray felt Jackson had become dependent on propofol and tried many alternatives to help Jackson sleep. He finally relented to his client's demands and at 10:40am added 25 milligramsof the substance to Jackson's drip. Finally the singer fell asleep. Forever.

I'm not trying to be cute or clever but we've all had troubles going to sleep, right?
My mom would always tell me to read a book or watch an old movie on TV. She said the worst thing was to lie in bed worrying and thinking. Where was Michael's mom during all this? Whatever happened to a shot of brandy and cup of herbal tea? Speaking of herbs, I bet MJ could have afforded the finest marijuana, and that certainly has a calming effect on most people. What about a hot bath? They say Michael did not drink alcohol, maybe this was the time to start. A couple glasses of wine might have done the trick. Or how about a simple Quaalude?

Obviously Michael Jackson's problems were not simple to solve. He was in debt and under the enormous pressure of completing a 50 show engagement in London. I could understand how it would be hard to sleep with all that going on. I find it remarkable that his doctor kept giving him drugs and no one suggested any homeopathic cures for his insomnia. If you're at the point in your life you need a powerful anesthetic just to fall asleep, then you don't have much of a
life anyway. Even if you are the King of Pop.