Celine Dion Took Potentially Fatal Dosages of Valium to Cope With Symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome: ‘I Did Not Know Honestly That It Could Kill Me’
variety.comSteven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer Celine Dion has given her first TV interview since her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022, detailing the toll it’s taken on her life in NBC News’ hourlong special “Celine’s Story” with Hoda Kotb.
In the emotional interview, which aired this evening and will be available to stream on Peacock tomorrow, the singer goes into detail about the struggles she’s faced over the years, from when she first began experiencing symptoms to how a prescription for Valium to deal with them could have been fatal.
She recalls that she was prescribed Valium to cope with her muscle spasms and stiffness before receiving her SPS diagnosis in 2022.
Dion, who was taking Valium so she could perform, gradually built a tolerance and at one point was taking 90 milligrams a day — far beyond the maximum recommended dosage of 40 milligrams. “I did not know honestly that it could kill me,” she says. “Ninety milligrams of Valium can kill you, you can stop breathing.
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