Whitney Houston's Cause of Death: 10 Celebrities Who Died of Controversial Prescription Drugs (PHOTOS)

Too much of anything is bad. Pharmaceutical drugs can cure several diseases but it can also take away lives. Lots of celebrities have lost their lives due to prescription drugs overdose.

Big celebrities, who succumbed to drugs overdose, include Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Heath Ledger, and singer Whitney Houston could fall into this category with some alleging that she died of comsuming prescription drugs and alcohol.

 Check out 10 celebrities who died of prescription drugs in the past:

Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, who was known for her beauty and glamour, died on August 5, 1962 at the age of 36. The toxicology report showed high levels of two barbiturates in her blood - Pentobarbital (AKA Nembutal) and chloral hydrate (sleeping pills). Her cause of death was listed as a probable suicide but many believe that it was accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

American guitarist Jimi Hendrix was found dead in his girlfriend's hotel room in London. He died at the age of 27 on September 18, 1970. The coroner's report said that he died of "inhalation of vomit" - Secobarbital, AKA Seconal (sleeping pill). Many considered his death as suicide but it is believed to be accidental overdose.

Legendary action hero and martial artiste died at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973. He died of acute cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) caused by consumption of prescription drug equagesic (painkiller). He was given the pill by a friend after he complained of headache.

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, died of cardiac arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat) at the age of 42 on August 16, 1977. It is believed that prescription drugs damaged his heart. Investigation found out that he was prescribed between 5,000 and 10,000 pills in eight months leading to his death. 14 different drugs he took include codeine (painkiller) and methaqualone and AKA Quaaludes (sedative).

Rob Pilatus of the pop duo “Milli Vanilli”, died in a Frankfurt hotel room on April 2, 1998 at the age of 32. He died of heart attack caused by overdose of an unspecified drug, rumored to be methadone (painkiller, anti-addiction aid).

R&B singer Gerald Levert died in his Ohio home at the age of 40 on November 10, 2006. He died after consuming prescription painkillers like Vicodin, Percocet and Dextropropoxyphene (AKA Darvocet), sedative/anxiety medication alprazolam (AKA Xanax) and over-the-counter drugs. His death is believed to be accidental overdose.

Model Anna Nicole Smith was found dead in a Florida hotel on February 8, 2007. She was 39 when she passed away. An autopsy on her revealed that she took several drugs including chloral hydrate (sleep aid), clonazepam (AKA Klonopin), lorazepam (AKA Ativan), oxazepam (AKA Serax) and diazepam (AKA Valium). It is believed to accidental overdose.

Well-known American actor died in his New York City apartment on February 6, 2008. He was 28 when he passed away. Medical reports found six prescription drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone (Painkillers), temazepam (sleeping pill), diazepam (AKA Valium), alprazolam (AKA Xanax) and doxylamine in his body. The cause of his death is believed to be accidental overdose.

King of Pop Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. The coroner described his death as
as a homicide. He had been administered propofol, lorazepam and midazolam by his personal physician.

Popular and award-winning singer Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012 in a Beverly Hills hotel room. The singer, who had a history of drug abuse and alcohol, died at the age of 48. It will take a few weeks to know the exact cause of her death but gossip website TMZ reported that she died from a mixture of prescription drugs and alcohol.