Howie Mandel Opens Up About Near-Fatal Pandemic Medication Scare

Howie Mandel is shedding light on a terrifying personal ordeal that nearly turned fatal during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The veteran comedian and television personality recently revealed that an attempt to handle his intense mental health challenges took a dangerous turn, resulting in a life-threatening medical emergency. The longtime TV star has always been vocal about his ongoing battles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the extreme isolation and uncertainty of the global lockdown pushed his anxiety levels to an all-time high, making it nearly impossible for him to function normally on a day-to-day basis. ## What happened to Howie Mandel during the pandemic In a bid to quiet his spiraling thoughts and manage his severe symptoms without proper supervision, Mandel turned to self-medicating. The decision quickly backfired in the worst possible way, creating a nightmare scenario inside his home as his physical health rapidly deteriorated. According to reports, the host took an improper combination or dosage of substances while attempting to cope with his overwhelming distress. The unintended chemical interaction caused his body to shut down to an alarming degree, leaving his loved ones panicked when they discovered him completely unresponsive. ## Did Howie Mandel nearly die from self medicating Mandel recounted the frightening situation, admitting that his family faced a harrowing battle just to get a reaction out of him. "They couldn't wake me up," the star shared, emphasizing that the situation escalated far beyond a simple misstep and landed him directly in life-threatening territory. Looking back on the crisis, the former *Deal or No Deal* host acknowledged that he is extremely lucky to have survived the ordeal. He noted that the experience was a massive wake-up call regarding the perils of trying to adjust or alter prescriptions and treatments on his own during moments of intense distress. Today, the entertainer hopes that revealing the dark chapter will warn others about the deadly dangers of improper substance use during mental health crises. By sharing his near-miss, Mandel continues his mission of promoting honest conversations around mental illness while reminding fans to always seek professional guidance.