Larry King's Wife Shawn Southwick King Enters Rehab For Addiction To Painkillers: Report

The New York Post's Page Six reports that Shawn Southwick King, wife of CNN's Larry King, has entered rehab for addition to painkillers:

TALKMEISTER Larry King's stunning TV-personality wife, Shawn Southwick King, 48, has gone into rehab for addiction to painkillers. King, 74, has been married to Southwick, his sixth wife, for 10 years and they have two children together. A friend of King's confirmed to Page Six, "Shawn is in rehab for medication issues related to her chronic migraine problem." CNN declined to comment.

Shawn King discussed her migraines on the April 26, 2005 broadcast of "Larry King Live," and, in particular, discussed the dangers of taking too much pain medication:

L. KING: Before we ask Susan, does Imitrex work -- does anything work for you?

S. KING: So far, we're still searching.

L. KING: None of the pain pills work for you?

S. KING: No. I mean, well, you've taken me to the hospital for morphine when it gets really, really bad.

L. KING: So none of the -- even the new ones?

S. KING: But you have to be really careful, because it can be a cycle where if you take too much pain medication, that can trigger another migraine.

L. KING: So the pain -- the cause -- the cure is the cause?

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S. KING: Right.

Earlier in that broadcast, Shawn King said she could get as many as ten migraines in one month and that she hadn't gone three months without a migraine since first coming down with the painful headaches:

SHAWN KING, SINGER, LARRY'S WIFE, MIGRAINE SUFFERER: I remember the very day, it was the day my brother got married. And I put the luncheon on, the brunch. And after my part of the brunch was over with, I started losing vision in this -- like a crescent shape. And I would hold up my hand, and I couldn't tell how many fingers I was holding up. And...

L. KING: What did you think it was?

S. KING: Well, I didn't have any idea, except I mentioned it to the fellow who was sitting next to me. He said, you're about to get a migraine headache. Because he was a migraine sufferer.

L. KING: Since then you get them how frequently?

S. KING: Oh, it depends.

L. KING: Average?

S. KING: Average, boy, I can get 10 in a month. I can get one or three in a month. You've seen me go through...

L. KING: What's the longest you've ever been without one?

S. KING: Oh, gosh.

L. KING: Do you think? You ever gone three months without one?

S. KING: No.

Click for the full transcript of Shawn King migraines discussion on "Larry King Live."

Comments

[TXfemmom]

Migraines can be quite debilitating. Sometimes, beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, normally used for blood pressure can treat migraines, and narcotics are not needed. When I feel one coming on, I load up on caffeine, which can counteract them, and tylenol, and just lie down in a quiet dark place and hope I can hurry up and get nauceous and be sick, as vomiting sometimes limits the headache for some odd reason.

I wonder if she has treated her allergies, sworn off alcohol, especially red wine, and some of the other things which can trigger headaches?

[workinman]

Everything about this is creepy and sad.

[Drewkowski]

Rehab for painkillers? There is no such thing as "treatment" for what is a free-will behavior. You simply stop taking them if you are physically dependent. If you have withdrawl and discomfort, you take supplemental drugs, but at the end of it, you probably have to suffer a couple days. No big deal. It is like the flu. hundreds of thousands of veterans from both world wars, and vietnam, all beat painkiller addictions - most without even MENTIONING it to anyone else.

Rehab is a show for people who really do not want to quit, but want to go through the motions of quitting for the sake of those around them.

Mark my words - she has another headache, she is going to take drugs. It is what >any< REASONABLE person would do who was not fixated on social moralism. The 12-steps especially are religion cloaked as rehab, and a SCAM. That is truly the devestating factoid about the drug world, is the "treatment" is worse than the quasi-disease.

[avraamjack]

.
LSD and MARIJUAMNA help with toxic addictions.
.

[Harinama]

look avraamjack, while i have nothing against lsd or pot, do you have any REAL experience with these drugs in relation to migraines? If so, please site ANY documentation to support it.

Personally, i have migraines 1-5x/month, and they can be VERY debilitating. Some folks, who go through the allopathic medical system, get prescribed a long list of drugs, many of which have never shown migraine benefits. It's a vicious cycle of pain meds, pharma's and many side-effects.

So far, i've only reached for a pain med a few times in 10yrs. When a migraine hits, darkness, quiet, bedrest and puking seem to help. Sometimes a shot of caffeine will take the edge off. However I found out that some of my migraines (i have about 6 different types of headaches) were CAUSED BY CAFFEINE, when i would get too much at 1x. Now i drink mostly decaf, and occasionally 1/2 decaf/caf. I have sometimes found maryjane to be of assistance, but really only in that it dulls the pain somewhat. It does not fix the migraine.

You obviously no NOTHING about migraines, or you would have offered support and some additional REALISTIC remedies or coping mechanisms. Hell, how can MOST people even get LSD?

Migraines have tons of triggers, from food/env allergies, caffeine, sugar, preservatives, muscular-skeletal problems (esp neck), light flashes, etc.

I feel for Mrs. King, good luck in your search for help.

[ABB]

I don't know much about painkiller addiction, but as a 31 yr member of AA, I can say you do not know of what you speak regarding the 12 steps cloaking religion. There is a world of difference between religion and spirituality. My hunch is you weren't cured in your first 3 meetings and so went back to using. Better luck next time.

[wanked]

She needs more magnesium in her diet. A bottle at the health food store costs about 12 dollars...­.

[Colmore]

Marry for money, regret at your leisure. All the money in the world can not compensate for real love.

[heal57]

I second that. I am married for love, but I do get migraines and have for almost 40 years and I'm only marfried 4 years. I wish Shawn well. I know that stress is a big trigger.

[Checquoline]

Stunning TV personality? Who? Oh her. I would have a headache every night too if I was married to him.