New Cause of Death For Anna Nicole Smith?

An accidental overdose of prescription drugs killed former reality TV star and Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith, authorities declared at the first of the week.  Though many have wondered why she wasn't rushed to the hospital as she became sicker with each passing day Seminole tribal police Chief Charlie Tiger said the case was now closed.  "We are convinced, based on extensive review of the evidence, that this case is an accidental overdose with no other criminal element present," Tiger said at a news conference announcing Smith's autopsy results.

New Cause of Death For Anna Nicole Smith?

But now a new theory has emerged that examines if there could have been something other than the nine drug cocktail and three people unable to convince a very sick and weak woman to go to the hospital to seek treatment.

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Fox News reporter Roger Friedman has the 411: Here's a theory about Anna Nicole Smith's various drug interactions: Apparently, the antibiotic she was taking has a deleterious effect when mixed with caffeine. Around Smith's bed, according to her autopsy report, were cans of soda.

The theory offered to Friedman by an expert source is that the combination of Cipro and soda was keeping Smith awake and unable to sleep. The result was Smith accidentally overdosing on chloral hydrate, which she took in liquid form to sleep.  In other words: Dealing with severe insomnia, Smith was swigging the chloral hydrate and overdosed.

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Broward County toxicologist Howard Schueler told Fox the caffeine-Cipro theory could be contributory to Smith lapping up the sleep medication. On top of that, he adds, the other drugs in her system were just too much.

"It's the Ativan, the Valium, the Klonopin and the chloral hydrate together," he said.