Celine Dion discloses life-threatening use of Valium for muscle spasms

Celine Dion has revealed a startling chapter of her life, disclosing that she once took life-threatening doses of Valium to alleviate severe muscle spasms.

Speaking with PEOPLE for the latest cover story, the My Heart Will Go On singer shared about the progressive symptoms that started to show in the mid-2000s.

It included muscle spasms, breathing difficulties that made it difficult to sing, and, most severely, "crisis" episodes in which her entire body locked up and caused excruciating pain.

Sharing that she felt a spasm almost 20 years ago when she was on tour in Germany, Dion recalled, "I had breakfast, and I suddenly started to feel a spasm. My vocal exercise made it worse.”

The I Am Alive singer, booked appointments with ophthalmologists and ear, nose, and throat doctors, and tried everything from steam showers to over-the-counter treatments, but nothing helpful for her

As her symptoms intensified she was advised to take prescription medications, including muscle relaxers like Valium.

"We started with two milligrams to see if it would help, and then 2.5, and then 3, and 15 and 50," said Dion.”

She disclosed that the effects of the drug started to wear off so quickly that she had to take 90 milligrams of Valium to get through a performance.

It could have been fatal. I did not question the level because I don't know medicine. I thought it was going to be okay. It worked for a few days, for a few weeks, and then it doesn't work anymore," Dion added.

The Grammys winner noted, "I did not understand that I could have gone to bed and stopped breathing. And you learn — you learn through your mistakes.”

She shared that she is "very, very happy and fortunate" as she can share her learnings with others.