October 23, 2012
Tony Scott had anti-depression drugs in system, death ruled a suicide
English born film director Tony Scott had an anti-depressant and sleep aid in system at time of his suicide on August 19 in Los Angeles.
The director had a therapeutic level of Mirtazapine, also known as Remeron, as well as the insomnia medication Lunesta in his bloodstream at the time of his death, the Los Angeles County Coroner said.
Scott climbed up the Vincent Thomas Bridge and jumped to his death as horrified onlookers dialed 911. It is now reported by multiple news sources that Scott had an anti-depressant and a sleep aid in his system when he committed suicide.
The director had a therapeutic level of Mirtazapine, also known as Remeron, as well as the insomnia medication Lunesta in his bloodstream at the time of his death, the Los Angeles County Coroner said.
His death was ruled a suicide caused by “multiple blunt force injuries” and drowning, the coroner ruled.
TMZ reported that Scott scaled a barrier fence and jumped off of the massive Vincent Thomas suspension bridge during the daylight.
Both TMZ and The Los Angeles Times reported that authorities released 911 recordings from witnesses who reported Scott’s suicide.
“We are just on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and there’s a guy that looks like he’s just about to jump off. Oh my God, he’s jumped! He’s jumped!” an unidentified woman told an emergency dispatcher in the recordings first obtained by TMZ.com.
“It’s dangerous. He just parked his car in the lane there, and he’s jumped.”
Scott reportedly parked his black Toyota Prius with its emergency lights flashing in the slow lane of the bridge.
An erroneous report surfaced quickly that Scott had inoperable brain cancer which was dismissed by his immediate family as false.
Scott did leave notes in his car and office.
The director was survived by his third wife and their twin sons.
Medical and addiction expert, residential rehabilitation facility Cliffside Malibu’s internist Dr. Damon Raskin, spoke to Monsters and Critics about the perils of not adequately treating clinical depression.
He tells Monsters and Critics, “Clearly Mr Scott was suffering from depression. Insomnia is a very common symptom of depression, and is often difficult to treat. Physicians will often combine antidepressants and sedative hypnotics like Lunesta to help patients with both their mood disorder and sleep disorder. Remeron is often used to help patients sleep as well. It is considered a ‘sedating’ antidepressant. This combination is not dangerous in and of itself if taken at the recommended doses, but in this case, it is obvious that the depression was not adequately treated.”
Dr Damon Raskin, M.D is a board certified internist. For 10 years Dr. Raskin has specialized in working in addiction detoxification. Dr. Raskin has been interviewed for national and local media on all topics related to addiction and can be reached at
