Ashwin Lewis
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley's relationship has been the subject of much fascination, with the couple's drug use often coming under scrutiny. In her memoir, Priscilla writes about how Elvis gave her sleeping pills and amphetamines during their relationship. This is depicted in the 2023 film 'Priscilla', which chronicles the events from Priscilla's teens to just after her divorce from the musician. In the film, Priscilla takes mysterious pills at Elvis's urging to help her sleep, only to wake up two days later. In real life, these were heavy-duty sleeping tablets known as Placidyl, which knocked her out for two days. Priscilla also writes about taking amphetamines, specifically Dexedrine, to keep up with Elvis's nocturnal schedule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for taking sleeping pills | To keep up with Elvis's nocturnal schedule |
| Type of sleeping pills | Placidyl |
| Dosage | Two 500mg pills |
| Effect | Knocked Priscilla out for two days |
| Other drugs taken | Amphetamines, LSD |
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What You'll Learn
Priscilla's memoir confirms Elvis gave her sleeping pills
Priscilla Presley's memoir, Elvis and Me, confirms that Elvis gave her sleeping pills. In the memoir, Priscilla recalls how Elvis gave her "two large, red pills" to help her sleep after her trip to Graceland for Christmas. These pills, known as Placidyl, knocked her out for two days. This was not the first time Priscilla had taken sleeping pills, as she had previously taken them with Elvis and his friends to keep up with his nocturnal schedule.
Priscilla met Elvis when she was just 14, and he was stationed in Germany on military service. She moved in with him at 15, spending all her free time at Graceland. Elvis had a habit of staying up late into the early morning and sleeping through the day. To manage this lifestyle, he took sleeping pills and amphetamines, and he also gave Priscilla amphetamines, specifically Dexedrine, to keep her awake during school.
In her memoir, Priscilla writes about a terrifying moment when Elvis gave her powerful drugs, and she almost died. She recalls a conversation she overheard, where someone was concerned about her wellbeing and suggested calling a doctor, but Elvis refused. After this incident, Priscilla notes that Elvis was worried about her and took care of her.
The 2023 film Priscilla, directed by Sofia Coppola, depicts the real-life events of Priscilla Presley and her relationship with Elvis, including their drug use. The film accurately portrays Elvis giving Priscilla sleeping pills and amphetamines, as mentioned in her memoir, but the LSD scenes differ from reality.
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She took them to keep up with his nocturnal schedule
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley's relationship and marriage have been the subject of much fascination and speculation. The couple's drug use, in particular, has been a focal point of recent biographical films and memoirs.
Priscilla has written about her experiences with drugs and the role that Elvis played in introducing her to them. In her memoir, 'Elvis and Me', and in interviews, Priscilla has detailed how Elvis gave her sleeping pills and amphetamines during their relationship. She has described how she took these pills to keep up with Elvis's nocturnal schedule and frantic lifestyle.
Priscilla first met Elvis when she was only 14, and their relationship began when she was still a teenager. During this time, she spent all her free time at Graceland, staying up late every night with Elvis. He often stayed up all night and slept late into the afternoon, a schedule that Priscilla struggled to keep up with.
To manage this, Elvis gave her sleeping pills and amphetamines, which she initially refused but eventually began taking. Priscilla writes that she wanted to adapt to Elvis's lifestyle and that the pills helped her do that. She writes, "I was adapting. My inhibitions were dropping away, and I became more assertive, especially after taking the pills. I liked the feeling. Even though it was an escape from reality, we were in sync, and to me, I was fitting more into his world."
Priscilla also describes an incident where Elvis gave her two large red pills to help her sleep after a long trip from Germany to Graceland. These pills, later identified as 500-milligram Placidyls, knocked her out for two days. This incident caused concern among Graceland employees, but Elvis refused to call a doctor.
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Elvis also gave her amphetamines
Elvis Presley gave his then-girlfriend Priscilla Beaulieu amphetamines, specifically Dexedrine, in addition to sleeping pills. Priscilla writes in her 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, that Elvis gave her a "handful of small, white pills" and told her they would give her energy when she was feeling drowsy. She also writes that he gave her amphetamines to keep her from dozing off in class, believing he was doing her a favour.
Elvis had a long history of amphetamine use, starting in high school, where he used them to treat symptoms of ADHD, as reported by his classmates and friends. Later, he took amphetamines to boost his energy and confidence before performances and to lose weight. Amphetamines were also prescribed to him by his doctor, Dr. George Nichopoulos, who was later prosecuted for overprescribing addictive drugs.
Priscilla's book sheds light on their relationship from her perspective, including their drug use. She writes about how Elvis started taking pills while on military service in Germany in 1958, where they were given to soldiers to stay awake during late-night drills. When he returned to the US, he continued taking sleeping pills and gave them to Priscilla so that she could keep up with his nocturnal schedule.
The couple's drug use is depicted in the 2023 film Priscilla by Sofia Coppola, which includes scenes of Priscilla taking the pills Elvis gave her. The film is based on real-life events and includes their experimentation with other drugs, such as LSD.
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Priscilla took them despite her concerns
Priscilla Presley met Elvis when she was just 14 years old, while he was on military service in Germany. She moved in with him at 15, and they spent weeks in bed, during which he gave her powerful drugs and she almost died. In her memoir, Elvis and Me, Priscilla writes about the two large red pills Elvis gave her to help her sleep after a long trip from Germany to Graceland. These were heavy-duty sleeping tablets with the trade name Placidyl, and they knocked her out for two days.
Priscilla had previously been wary of the pills Elvis took and had not taken them, despite his encouragement. However, during a trip to Las Vegas, she decided to take them despite her concerns. She wanted to adapt to his fast-paced lifestyle and unusual hours, and the pills became essential to keep up with his nocturnal schedule. She also took amphetamines, namely Dexedrine, to stay awake and keep up with her school work.
Priscilla writes that Elvis honestly believed he was doing her a favour by giving her the pills. She explains that he had started taking pills while in the Army to stay awake during late-night drills and then took sleeping pills to counteract the effects. She grew to like the way the pills made her feel, as they helped her fit into his world and made her feel more assertive.
Priscilla's decision to take the pills despite her concerns highlights the power dynamic and influence Elvis had over her, especially given her young age and their significant age difference. It also underscores the toxic nature of their relationship, which involved controlling behaviour and physical abuse.
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She almost died after taking powerful drugs with Elvis
Priscilla Presley met Elvis when she was just 14, and he was 24. In her memoir, Elvis and Me, Priscilla writes about the powerful drugs that Elvis gave her, including sleeping pills and amphetamines. She also describes their shared use of LSD.
Priscilla describes one incident where Elvis gave her two large red pills to help her sleep after a trip to Graceland. These were heavy-duty sleeping tablets called Placidyl, and they knocked her out for two days. Priscilla's book describes how she felt after taking the pills: "I felt as if my arm was so heavy I could barely raise my hand; my eyelids seemed weighted." When she woke up, Priscilla was upset that she had missed out on time with Elvis.
Priscilla also writes about taking amphetamines, specifically Dexedrine, to stay awake and keep up with Elvis's nocturnal schedule. She writes that she initially refused the pills Elvis offered her, but eventually decided to take them to adapt to his fast-paced lifestyle: "To help me adapt to this fast-paced lifestyle and unusual hours I would join Elvis and the others in taking amphetamines and sleeping pills... Despite whatever misgivings I had about pills, I took them. In order for me to keep up, they became essential."
Priscilla has spoken about how Elvis started taking pills while in the Army, and how this led to a cycle of sleeping pills and amphetamines to manage his erratic sleep schedule. She describes how he would often sleep for over half a day and then need amphetamines to shake off the grogginess.
Priscilla's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, has expressed concern about how the film adaptation of her mother's memoir portrays Elvis, suggesting that it makes his behaviour appear more sinister than her mother intended.
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Frequently asked questions
Elvis gave Priscilla sleeping pills so that she could keep up with his nocturnal schedule.
Priscilla was 15 years old when she moved in with Elvis and started taking sleeping pills.
Priscilla Presley was the wife of Elvis Presley.
Yes, Elvis also gave Priscilla amphetamines, LSD, and speed.
Priscilla was initially wary of the pills but eventually took them to adapt to Elvis's lifestyle and unusual hours.
