Céline Dion Reveals Taking Up To 90 Milligrams Of Valium Amid Health Struggles
Céline Dion, the legendary music icon, has opened up about the extreme measures she took to manage her health while battling the undiagnosed symptoms of stiff-person syndrome. In an emotional interview with PEOPLE, the 56-year-old singer shared her harrowing experience of taking up to 90 milligrams of Valium to power through performances.
Celine’s health struggles began in the mid-2000s, with progressive symptoms such as muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, and severe episodes where her entire body would lock up in excruciating pain.
The first spasm struck nearly 20 years ago while she was on tour in Germany. “I had breakfast, and I suddenly started to feel a spasm. My vocal exercise made it worse,” recalls the singer, who details her fight against SPS in the new documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, streaming globally on Prime Video starting June 25.
In her quest for relief, Celine tried various remedies, from steam showers to over-the-counter medications, and consulted multiple specialists, all to no avail. As her symptoms worsened, she turned to prescription medications, including muscle relaxers like Valium. “We started with two milligrams to see if it would help, and then 2.5, and then 3, and 15 and 50,” she explained.
The medication initially provided some relief, but its effectiveness diminished quickly, leading Celine to take dangerously high doses. “It could have been fatal. I did not question the level because I don’t know medicine. I thought it was going to be okay. It worked for a few days, for a few weeks, and then it doesn’t work anymore,” she said.
“I did not understand that I could have gone to bed and stopped breathing. And you learn — you learn through your mistakes,” she added.
Despite the risks, the My Heart Will Go On singer continued to perform, driven by her commitment to her fans and her passion for music. “It’s very important to know… people who know me well enough, they know that I did not take medicine just to drug myself, just to be high or to be stoned. I have been as professional as can be through my whole life, a disciplined, hard-working person doing what I need to do for my voice to be in top shape,” she stated.
Following her SPS diagnosis in August 2022, Celine began a comprehensive treatment plan involving medication, vocal therapy, immune therapy, and intense physical rehabilitation five days a week.
“The good thing that’s on my side is that I love doing all these things,” she said with a smile.
Dr. Amanda Piquet, the director of the autoimmune neurology program at the University of Colorado and the physician who diagnosed Celine, described the singer’s treatments as a “full-time job.”
Amanda believes Celine’s openness about her condition and extreme measures will help raise awareness for SPS, a disorder often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
“We don’t have FDA-approved therapies for this disease. While we use these treatments, everything is off-label. I’ve certainly had patients that have clear improvements with these therapies, but we need clinical trials and research to tell us what truly is best,” Amanda stated.
As Amanda and her team continue their research, they urge patients to remain hopeful.
“Like a lot of my patients, she is incredibly motivated and determined. I do think that there is hope that patients can get back to doing things that they love to do,” Amanda stated.
