Elvis' Pills For Sale

A variety of Elvis Presley memorabilia owned by Dr. George Nichopoulous (who's perhaps better known as Dr. Nick) — the doctor who prescribed the singer ridiculous amounts of pills, liquids, inhalants and douches before his death in 1977 — will be auctioned off by Julien's Auctions on June 26 and 27 in Las Vegas.

The items include a pill bottle of Vicon-C (yes, it contains some pills — we don't recommend you take them) that Dr. Nick prescribed to Presley on Aug. 15, 1977, one day before he died of a prescription drug overdose while sitting on his toilet. Its estimated value in Julien's Auctions' catalogue is about $800 to $1,200 U.S.

Other items up for auction include: the medical bag Dr. Nick used while he made house calls to Graceland; a diamond "TCB" necklace the King gave to Dr. Nick; framed newspaper articles about Dr. Nick's exoneration in Presley's death; a nasal douche Presley used to clear his sinuses before shows; a Walther PPK .380 calibre pistol; Karen Carpenter's diamond ring; and a white coral and turquoise necklace Presley wore while filming Blue Hawaii and later gave to Dr. Nick.

The entire catalogue of items can be viewed at Julien's website.

An autopsy found that Presley had 14 different drugs in his system at the time of his death, including codeine at 10 times the recommended level. Dr. Nick was indicted in 1980 for overprescribing drugs to Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and 12 other patients.

It was discovered that Dr. Nick had prescribed more than 10,000 doses of amphetamines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, laxatives, hormones, barbiturates and other narcotics to Presley in 1977. The physician argued that he'd tried to reduce Presley's dependence, and he was later acquitted.

Nonetheless, the Tennessee Board Of Medical Examiners found Dr. Nick guilty of over-prescription. It suspended his medical license and put him on two years' probation. His license was revoked in 1995 when it was found that he was still over-prescribing drugs.