Scoop

EXCLUSIVE: Health Fears for Britney Spears

Is Britney Spears on another downhill slide?

-Jackie Gallo

A touring Britney Spears is becoming overwhelmed by the demands of the road - despite help from her assistant, a nanny, friends and family. The pop star's conservator-dad, Jamie, was especially alarmed when he caught his daughter popping over-the-counter diet pills, which she washed down with Red Bull, before a recent performance. "Britney was definitely trying to get high by taking too many diet pills and energy drinks," says a family insider. "Jamie thinks the combination of the two is making her whacked-out and, causing her to lash out in weird angry rampages."

Given Britney's tumultuous history, her reliance on diet pills is extremely risky, according to medical experts, especially when those pills are mixed with the kinds of prescription psychiatric medications that Britney is believed to be taking. "Britney uses green-tea supplements, [Lab 88's herbal ephedra-free] Metabo Speed XXX, Dexatrim and apple cider vinegar to control her weight and energy levels," adds the insider. "She also pours those 5-Hour energy drinks into her Red Bulls."

The side effects of combining weight-loss aids with prescription medication can include increased anxiety, panic attacks and even seizures.

To stay out of trouble with her father, "Britney has her assistant buy the over-the-counter items for her," says the source. "But she told Kevin about it because she doesn't want him to think that she is addicted to harder stuff and take her two sons [Sean Preston and Jayden] away from her."

Britney, whose tour began in London last month and will end in Australia in November, is feeling the stress of the constant traveling and performing, and it's beginning to manifest itself physically. "Britney has had a little problem lately with skin breakouts, but she is keeping it under control by using Proactiv," adds the insider. "Since she has been so active, she's fallen back to some of her old fast food habits, but her friends and family are trying to keep her from overindulging. Her younger sister, Jamie Lynn, has been trying to help her keep on track by making long-distance bets about who can eat the healthiest."

Perhaps worst of all, Britney has been exhausting herself and not getting enough rest (and it's exacerbated by her use of diet pills and Red Bull, which rev up the metabolism and make it hard to sleep), and this has been making her emotionally unstable. 

Britney's rep did not respond to a request for comment, but the insider says those closest to her fear a return of the Britney of a little over a year ago who went off the rails, memorably shaving her head and being admitted to a psych ward.

"Kevin has asked her to relax and take more time for herself and the boys," says the source. "But she had a fit and went so far as to tell him to mind his own business. When Kevin told her she was acting like her old self, she really went nuts."

The solution: Dad Jamie is considering hiring a full-time masseuse for Britney Spears and looking into getting her more psychiatric counseling. "As far as Kevin is concerned, it can't come soon enough," adds the insider. "He is genuinely afraid for her again."