LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson suffered from severe bouts of insomnia and pleaded for a powerful sedative despite knowing its harmful effects, a nutritionist who worked with the singer said Tuesday.
Cherilyn Lee is a holisitic health practitioner and has been in healthcare for 23 years, her Web site states.
Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who first met Jackson in January to treat his children for a common cold, said she rejected his requests for Diprivan and informed him of the side effects.
"I told him this medication is not safe," Lee said. "He said, 'I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep.' "
"I told him -- and it is so painful that I actually felt it in my whole spirit -- 'If you take this you might not wake up.' "
CNN could not independently verify whether Lee worked with Jackson.
When asked about Lee's account, Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan said:
"I wonder why someone would make a comment about drugs when they haven't seen him take the drug or anyone who administered it."
The drug, known by its generic name Propofol, is administered intravenously as an anesthetic during surgeries. 
Watch nurse describe Jackson's drug request »
An initial dose puts a person to sleep. An overdose can lead to cardiac arrest, doctors say.
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