LONDON: The singer said he became so hooked on prescription medicines that he also overdosed on the heroin substitute methadone.

He inadvertently took a massive dose after being given a handful of tablets by a pal.

Eminem, 36, said: “My doctor told me those mysterious new pills were methadone.

“Had I known it was methadone, I probably wouldn’t have taken it. But, as bad as I was back then, I can’t even say 100 per cent for sure.

“My doctor told me the amount of methadone I’d taken was equivalent to shooting up four bags of heroin.

“Even when they told me I had almost died, it didn’t click.”

The American star, whose eagerly-awaited new album is called Relapse, was also addicted to the sedative Valium.

In August 2005 he cancelled a European tour, citing exhaustion.

Two days later his record company revealed he was being treated for dependency on sleep medication. Although he soon weaned himself off he suffered a relapse.

He told yesterday how he searched his home in desperation for drugs or medications containing powerful narcotics, such as cough syrup NyQuil.

The star added: “Rap was my drug.

“It used to get me high, then it stopped getting me high.

“Then I had to resort to other things to make me feel that. Now rap’s getting me high again.”