The singer opens up about her struggle with stiff-person syndrome and the dangerous use of medication to manage symptoms.
Celine Dion, the iconic Canadian singer, has revealed that her intense desire to perform while battling a rare neurological disorder led her to take dangerously high doses of Valium. Dion, who has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a debilitating condition affecting one or two out of every million people, confessed that at one point, she was consuming up to 90 milligrams of Valium daily, a dose that could have been fatal.
The famed singer, known for her powerful voice and five Grammy awards, explained that she began taking Valium to help manage the muscle spasms and seizures caused by her condition. Initially, she started with 20 milligrams of the medication, which is typically prescribed in doses of 2 to 10 milligrams for adults. However, as her body adapted to the medication, Dion found herself needing more, eventually reaching 90 milligrams on some days to feel relief.
“Ninety milligrams of Valium can kill you. You can stop breathing,” Dion said in an emotional interview with NBC News’ Hoda Kotb. She admitted that her body became accustomed to the escalating doses, leaving her reliant on the medication to relax her muscles and control the symptoms. Despite the dangers of such high doses, Dion struggled to manage her condition and maintain her career.
The singer stopped using the medication with the help of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as the global shutdown halted her performances. “I stopped everything with the help of doctors, because when you taper these drugs, you can, you can die, as well,” Dion explained. However, after discontinuing the medication, her symptoms worsened, and she has been unable to return to performing.
In late 2022, Dion stunned her fans by publicly revealing her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare and progressive neurological condition. This disclosure shed light on the challenges she faced behind the scenes, as her condition and the struggle to control its symptoms have prevented her from making a full comeback.
Dion’s revelation about her dependence on medication underscores the severe impact of her illness on her ability to continue her musical career. As she continues to navigate the complexities of managing stiff-person syndrome, her fans have shown an outpouring of support, hoping for her recovery and eventual return to the stage.
