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 and nurse practitioner 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.' "
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NEW: Lawyer: Nurse never saw Jackson take, be administered drug
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Jackson said "I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep," nurse said
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Cherilyn Lee: I told Jackson "if you take this you might not wake up"
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Sedative Jackson requested given through IV as anesthetic during surgeries
The drug, known by its generic name @placeholder, is administered intravenously as an anesthetic during surgeries.