Media articles about Cuz July 6th

[one-eyed]

Tigers on edge over Cousins
SAMANTHA LANE AND MICHAEL GLEESON
July 6, 2010
 
BEN Cousins will not play for Richmond this week and it remains uncertain when he will play again after the Brownlow medallist was taken to intensive care in hospital last night after a reaction to sleeping tablets.

The club remains understandably less concerned with the recovering drug addict's immediate playing future and more with his general health after Cousins had to be rushed to hospital yesterday when he could not be properly roused from sleep after taking sleeping tablets the night before.

The club was confident that Cousins had only had a couple of glasses of wine, at most, the night before and does not believe that he had been out partying after the thrilling, come-from-behind win over Sydney on Sunday.

A thrilled group of Richmond players - and coach Damian Hardwick - sing the team song after their last-gasp victory over Sydney on Sunday. Ben Cousins is second from right. Photo: Paul Rovere

Tigers officials expect to have a clearer picture from doctors today of what happened with Cousins and his immediate outlook.

Cousins, like virtually all players, takes caffeine tablets before matches to heighten senses, but the effect of the tablets is that many players struggle to sleep after matches and consequently Cousins, like some other players, takes sleeping tablets.

But Cousins' girlfriend had trouble waking him yesterday morning and immediately called club doctor Greg Hickey, who drove over to his house.

The doctor also had difficulty waking Cousins but when he did partially come around he was extremely disoriented so Hickey decided he should go to Epworth Hospital. He was put in intensive care last night so doctors could monitor him.

"The only information we have from the staff is that it was an adverse reaction to a sleeping pill and … we really won't know more for the next day or so,'' Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said.

The club said it was unaware how many sleeping tablets Cousins had taken on Sunday night. Until the club has spoken with doctors, hopefully today, it will not know how long Cousins will be out of the team.

Cousins was suspended by the club after its game against Sydney in round three because he gave a prescription sleeping tablet - understood to be Temazepam - to teammate Luke McGuane. Temazepam is considered one of the milder sleeping tablets.

Cameron said this health issue was not related to the stomach complaint Cousins suffered in March. He received treatment at the Epworth prior to round one.

"We've got no suspicion that there was anything illicit involved," Cameron said.

"It's definitely concerning for his health. He's in hospital in intensive care. His condition won't be known for another 24 hours and that's concerning, for sure, and we're worried about Ben's health."

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-on-edge-over-cousins-20100705-zxk5.html

[one-eyed]

Cousins under sedation, unconscious, in danger
CAROLINE WILSON
July 6, 2010
 
AS BEN Cousins' AFL career and more hung in the balance last night, the Richmond Football Club insisted his turbulent life over the past two months had been at its most content and stable in his 19 months with the Tigers.

Richmond, still on a high shortly before midday yesterday after its upset win over Sydney on Sunday, was brought crashing back to earth when word spread through the club that an unconscious Cousins had been admitted to Epworth Hospital's emergency unit. Last night, club officials admitted they were gravely concerned about him.

Placed under sedation once in hospital Cousins only briefly regained consciousness before being moved to intensive care shortly after 2pm and was put on a respirator. Richmond initially said Cousins had had an adverse reaction to a sleeping pill but neither the club nor Epworth medical staff had a clear picture of the events that led to his perilous state.

''There's no suggestion of illicit drugs and there's no suggestion of overuse of alcohol, which is why we are fumbling around in the dark a bit,'' Tigers' football boss Craig Cameron told The Age last night.

''I would say that in recent months Ben's been as contented and stable as I've seen him at Richmond. The challenge of playing on next year was going to be tough, but his form had improved and things have been going really well for him,'' Cameron said.

Cousins, a long-term drug addict who had had issues with alcohol, particularly in his first season at the club, was highly charged and buoyant after the come-from-behind win over Sydney. While some players briefly visited an official club function at the MCG after the game involving some over-refreshed former club legends, the club said it had no knowledge of reports that several players had returned to Cousins' bayside home on Sunday night.

''There is no suggestion of any form of bender,'' Cameron said.

Teammates, including Richmond captain Chris Newman, reported yesterday that they had spoken to Cousins on the telephone well after midnight on Sunday mainly to discuss SBS's coverage of the Tour de France, on which the players had conducted a sweep.

Cousins' girlfriend Maylea Tinecheff, who had unsuccessfully tried to wake him about 11am yesterday, told the club that Cousins had taken a sleeping pill after drinking about three glasses of wine on Sunday night.

But neither the hospital nor the club could confirm the number of sleeping pills he had taken or positively identify the type. It is believed Cousins attends more than one doctor. Further tests today would clarify the picture.

Maylea telephoned club doctor Matt Chamberlain who drove to the house and also failed to wake him. An ambulance was called and Cousins was taken to the Epworth. He was attended for most of the afternoon by another Tigers doctor, Greg Hickey. No official or player was able to speak with Cousins in the brief time he was fully conscious.

Richmond's player welfare manager, Lauren Cooper, remained with Maylea at Cousins' rented home while Cameron contacted Cousins' father, Bryan, in Perth.

''We do know he's had sleeping pills before so there's something different about this episode,'' Dr Peter Larkins, an AFL commentator told Channel Nine last night. ''I'm sure Richmond and the doctors at the Epworth Hospital might be trying to get to the bottom of that.'' Larkins said Cousins' previous chemical dependencies could be linked to yesterday's loss of consciousness.

Cameron stressed the episode had no connection with Cousins' stomach problems that twice saw him admitted to hospital shortly before the start of the season. He has been treated as a separate case outside the AFL's drug code following his admission of drug addiction and a one-year suspension. He has been drug tested at least weekly, and generally several times a week by the AFL.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cousins-under-sedation-unconscious-in-danger-20100705-zxox.html

[one-eyed]

Difficulty sleeping a bitter pill for pumped players
SAMANTHA LANE
July 6, 2010
 
IT IS an unwritten rule of at least one Melbourne-based AFL club that day games, footballers and sleeping tablets will not be mixed.

If such a rule exists at Richmond then the Tigers' doctor, Greg Hickey, could not have known that Ben Cousins intended taking a sedative, after playing on Sunday afternoon at the MCG, that put him in a slumber so thick it landed him in the Epworth Hospital's intensive care unit.

When it comes to footballers, sleeping pills and night matches, however, it's a different state of affairs. Without the help of prescriptive drugs, players can find themselves still pulsating with adrenaline in the early hours of the following day.

After news of Cousins' latest health battle broke yesterday morning, one club doctor told The Age it was common for him to dispense sleeping pills to half the team after a night game. He said he would seriously question any player that requested a sedative after playing in the afternoon.

The only sleeping pill the same doctor said he felt comfortable providing was Temazepam, considered to be one of the milder of the 20 or so varieties available in Australia. Every player on the club's list, the doctor said, knows it is an absolute no-no to mix a sleeping tablet with alcohol.

''It just makes it 10 to 20 times stronger and the worst-case scenario, if you mix alcohol with your sleeping pills, is that you'll stop breathing,'' he said.

Doctor Hugh Seward, the executive officer of the league's Medical Officers Association, said yesterday he had no reason to be worried about sleeping tablet use by AFL players, or the use of legal substances that have the reverse effect, such as commonly-used caffeine tablets NoDoz, for that matter. Though the use of both substances on either end of an AFL match can make for a rollercoaster ride for a human body.

''Players often comment after a night game that it's hard to settle down and get to sleep. Sometimes before even two in the morning. Some players find it more difficult when they're out of their normal bed and travelling interstate, so they're the two situations I suppose when it would be more likely [that sleeping tablets are used], but I don't think it's common,'' Seward said. ''It's not an illegal drug, it's not a prohibited drug and, used wisely and occasionally, it can be of benefit to players. But it's certainly not a common drug that would be used.

''It's not something that's of high concern, it's not a burning issue at all. We'll [the MOA] probably discuss it more in light of this event.''

It is an expectation at AFL clubs, though not a rule, Seward said, that players will inform team doctors about any medication they take, or about any medical treatment they are receiving.

Doctor Andrew Jowett was a doctor at Collingwood until last year. He said yesterday that it was rare, in his time at the club, for him to administer sleeping tablets. ''There were maybe four or five in the team who would take them routinely and there might be one who'd approach me after a game,'' he said.

''I used to use Stilnox a lot. It's quicker acting, but it's out of your system much quicker, though there have been some recent reports of side effects, but that has been since I finished at the football club.

''With the increase of the number of night games, you talk to any of the players about the trouble they have - even if they haven't taken caffeine - sleeping after a game. It's a common problem.''

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/difficulty-sleeping-a-bitter-pill-for-pumped-players-20100705-zxk6.html

[one-eyed]

Career quietly slips into intensive care

  * Jon Ralph
  * Herald Sun
  * July 06, 2010


AT 4.52pm on Sunday, Ben Cousins was busy telling everyone he was on top of the world.

Richmond had beaten Sydney, Cousins had energetically hugged every teammate in sight, and was talking on 3AW to former West Coast teammate Scott Cummings.

The club's MCG changerooms were pumping after the Tigers' fourth win in five games, and Cousins was basking in the limelight.

"Mate, it's enjoyable. The whole group has been through a pretty tough period," he said.

"The first three months of the year we were getting hammered and, to the boys' credit, they stuck to it.

"I know how hard it is to beat Sydney, let alone come from behind, and it was just a great team win. It makes footy all worth it."

Less then 18 hours later, Cousins was being taken to the Epworth Hospital in an ambulance, perhaps never to play football again.

While Cousins recovery from Sunday's win was not exactly world's best practice, the club says the attack came out of the blue.

What is known is that Cousins consumed caffeine tablets before the game, drank red wine with partner Maylea Tinecheff on Sunday night, and then took sleeping tablets.

The club would prefer he did none of those three things but knows it cannot change Cousins' behaviour this late in his career.

He has always taken sleeping tablets, has always drank in moderation, and cannot sleep without help after games.

He is known to have slept so poorly after games that he changed his regular spot on Nova radio from Monday to Tuesday this year because he struggled to front up after Sunday games.

Cousins, 32, was due at Punt Rd yesterday for a 9.30am recovery session, but as that deadline approached it was clear he was going to be a no-show.

Tinecheff called one of the club's fitness staff when she was unable to rouse Cousins and it was arranged for club doctor Greg Hickey to visit him.

When Hickey struggled to wake Cousins, an ambulance was called.

Richmond knew the issue would quickly become a media circus, but the player's health was paramount.

He arrived at hospital before 11am, and when a medical drip was inserted because Cousins was dehydrated, he was transferred to intensive care.

In the interview with Cummings, Cousins again expressed his desire to play on: "I would love to. I don't want to overstay my welcome, but I will wait and see."

Now controversy has intervened again, with this setback again putting his career in doubt.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/career-quietly-slips-into-intensive-care/story-e6frf9jf-1225888266737

[one-eyed]

Richmond Tigers probe Ben Cousins' sleeping tablet scare

  * Jon Ralph, Aaron Langmaid
  * Herald Sun
  * July 06, 2010


A COCKTAIL of caffeine, alcohol and sleeping pills may have caused troubled Tiger Ben Cousins' dramatic collapse.

Richmond is investigating the theory, and hopes the recovering drug addict will wake from sedation on Tuesday to explain himself.

But the club says he took no illicit drugs.

And while he may have taken multiple tablets, the club doesn't believe he took a large number of them.

Cousins was in a stable condition in intensive care at Epworth Hospital on Monday night.

It emerged that Cousins had taken caffeine tablets before the club's win over Sydney on Sunday, and that he had drunk several glasses of red wine that night.

He then took a number of prescribed sleeping tablets.

Girlfriend Maylea Tinecheff was unable to rouse him early Monday morning.

With Cousins clearly in no state to attend a 9.30am recovery session, she called the club.

So far the club has been unable to question him.

But Tinecheff has told doctors Cousins had done nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing that would have brought on the episode.

Richmond denied reports that Cousins had been out late on Sunday night, and said he had not drunk excessively.

It also said no other person, apart from his girlfriend, had been present in the house, though two ambulances attended the call.

Cousins was admitted to hospital just before 11am, and spent most of the afternoon in and out of sleep, thanks to the sedation.

Though groggy, he was able to answer basic questions from medical staff and acknowledge those around him.

Richmond head of football Craig Cameron denied the incident was suspicious.

"We've got no suspicion that there was anything illicit involved," Cameron said.

"It's definitely concerning for his health. He's in hospital, in intensive care.

"His condition won't be known for another 24 hours, and that's concerning for sure. And we are worried about Ben's health."

Epworth Hospital spokeswoman Colleen Coghlan said Cousins had been moved into intensive care "for observation reasons" not long after he arrived.

"But clinically he is in a stable condition," she said.

Richmond discourages caffeine tablet use and privately does not favour players taking sleeping pills. Both have been part of Cousins' routine for more than a decade.

Richmond cannot confirm that Cousins will play football again, but has been told by doctors he has a solid chance of returning within weeks.

Cousins will be in hospital for another 24-48 hours, and doctors have hope that his condition will improve rapidly.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-ben-cousins-back-in-hospital/story-e6frf9jf-1225888005432

[one-eyed]

Ben Cousins's bitter pill

  * Jon Ralph
  * Herald Sun
  * July 06, 2010


LEADING AFL doctor Peter Larkins says players are using a dangerous combination of caffeine tablets and sleeping pills, exposing themselves to "chemical manipulation".

Larkins spoke out yesterday after Richmond star Ben Cousins was admitted to intensive care following an adverse reaction to a sleeping pill.

Cousins regularly uses sleeping pills to help him come down after games, and is believed to have used caffeine tablets before Sunday's win against Sydney.

Larkins said the use of caffeine as uppers and sleeping pills as downers was "rife", and would be particularly worrying for the AFL.

In the lead-in to the Round 11 game between North Melbourne and Brisbane, a Lions trainer was captured on film offering a container labelled "No-Doz" to players.

"We know as a fact caffeine is being abused by AFL players," Larkins said.

"Then players might want to calm down after a match and take Temazepam, which is just valium.

"So if you believe No-Doz is rife, there has to be a downside to that, which is where this whole chemical manipulation becomes a real joke.

"You are taking uppers before the game and downers after the game and it's not something the AFL would be happy about."

The AFL would not comment yesterday other than to say it enforced the World Anti-Doping Agency anti-doping code.

In 2007, AFL Medical Officers' Association president Hugh Seward said the AFL was complying with WADA rules on caffeine.

"Caffeine is not an illegal drug and if it doesn't affect performance it can be used," Seward said. "I couldn't comment on how widespread its usage is."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousinss-bitter-pill/story-e6frf9jf-1225888247956

[one-eyed]

Tigers discouraged players from using caffeine tablets

  * Jon Ralph and Michael Warner
  * Herald Sun
  * July 05, 2010 11:30PM


RICHMOND last night revealed it had discouraged its players from using caffeine tablets, as further evidence of legal drug use in football emerged.

Tigers insiders said an unofficial edict had been delivered warning players not to be seduced by the promised benefits of a concentrated caffeine hit.

Football insiders spoke yesterday of players routinely using a potential dangerous mix of No-Doz caffeine tablets before games, then coming down with the aid of ultra-strong sleeping tablets.

The issue flared when Richmond star Ben Cousins was put into intensive care after a reaction to a prescribed sleeping tablet.

It is believed Cousins took caffeine tablets before the match against Sydney on Sunday.

St Kilda star Leigh Montagna revealed the routine use of non-performance-enhancing drugs in football in a subscriber text message to fans at the weekend.

"Just been through my post-game routine, flush rub, ice bath and a couple of sleeping tablets off the doc to help me sleep," he wrote.

Several AFL stars including Richmond's Nathan Brown, Sydney's Peter Everitt and Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich revealed in 2005 that caffeine tablets were a routine part of their match-day preparation.

While publicity on the issue has subsided, the practice continues.

Sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said he was worried by the dramatic boom-bust cycle.

The practice is not illegal, but several medicos and club doctors say it could present major problems. Richmond is so concerned it has discouraged its players from the practice.

Just three weeks ago images of a Brisbane trainer offering Lions players caffeine tablets in a container labelled "No-Doz" disturbed medical experts.

In 2005 Everitt said AFL clubs had been using the tablets for four years.

"I take three before a game and a couple at halftime," he said.

Geelong's James Kelly said he believed up to half his teammates had trialled caffeine tablets. "Some guys have them, like I did tonight, if you are feeling a bit down. But it is up to the individual," he said at the time.

The increased number of night games has also contributed to players taking sleeping tablets to come down from games.

Players often have early-morning recovery sessions after night games, and get little or no sleep without the assistance of tablets such as Stillnox or Temazepan.

Caffeine tablets, which can be bought over the counter, were removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list in 2004, meaning AFL players can take as many pills as they like to increase their reflexes or reduce fatigue during games.

A standard No-Doz tablet contains 100mg of caffeine -- more than a can of Red Bull or a standard cup of coffee -- with some players reportedly taking as many as six before matches.

Former Wallabies skipper George Gregan once claimed they could lift performance by up to 7 per cent.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority says No-Doz tablets are not subject to bans or testing. Valium, used by some players to relax on match eve, and the popular sleeping pills, Stilnox and Temazepam, are also given a big tick.

The AFL Players' Association said it believed "most players were very prudent" when it came to taking caffeine tablets.

"It's important to recognise that No-Doz and caffeine tablets are not prohibited substances -- but our advice to any player is that they should seek medical advice before they use these medications," spokesman Ben Hart said.

A 2005 Herald Sun-AFLPA survey found up to 60 per cent of players admitted using No-Doz pre-game -- with 10 per cent reporting side-effects including dehydration, cramping and problems sleeping after matches.

North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey said in his backpagelead.com.au podcast that sleeping problems after games were common.

"After night games you do struggle to sleep. You're fairly hyped up, you certainly can't just go straight home to bed. I used to go out and have a couple of beers, a couple until about three. That was a good form of sleeping tablet -- too many beers," Carey said.

Another former player, who asked not to be named, said anti-inflammatories and No-Doz were widely used.

"I doubt there would be a player over 30 years of age who didn't take anti-inflammatories during their career. I can't imagine not one."

He said he was given Nurofen as a mild pain-killer and the stronger Voltaren by his club doctor, and believed that prednisolone, a drug used to treat asthma and arthritis and which is now banned on match day, was also used to combat osteitis pubis.

But the former player said he preferred to drink three or four coffees in the lead up to a game instead of taking No-Doz.
 
- with Mark Robinson

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-discouraged-players-from-using-caffeine-tablets/story-e6freck3-1225888261333

[one-eyed]

Expert says sleeping tablets should never be taken with alcohol

  * Marianne Betts
  * Herald Sun
  * July 06, 2010


Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia director Paul Dillon said: "Alcohol is a depressant. It slows the system down, and put sleeping pills on top of that, you are running a great risk."

Other factors that could trigger a severe adverse reaction would be adding other prescription medicines or illicit drugs into the mix.

Too many sleeping tablets could also shut down the central nervous system, causing a person to go into a coma and stop breathing, Mr Dillon said.

It was impossible to say how many sleeping tablets it would take for this to happen, as it depended on their strength and also on an individual's tolerance to them, he said.

"Sleeping pills are very risky if not used exactly as prescribed," he said.

Sleep specialist Prof Ron Grunstein, of Sydney University, said: "You'd have to try really hard to do something bad to yourself.

"In the prescribed doses ... they (sleeping tablets) are generally safe. They're not going to put people in intensive care."

A prescription sleeping tablet would not land anyone in intensive care unless it was mixed with alcohol or other substances, or taken in large amounts, he said.

Pharmaceutical Society spokesman John Bell said when sleeping tablets were mixed with alcohol, the most common side-effect tended to be greater sedation.

And if too many were taken, usually an individual would sleep for longer and be groggy the next day, he said.

The most likely reason for a hospital admission would be if a sleeping tablet were taken in conjunction with another prescription medicine, or another substance, such as illicit drugs.

The most common adverse reaction to sleeping tablets was strong sedation, but they occasionally triggered agitation or anxiety, he said.

The side-effects of Temazepam, which Cousins has been linked to, was sedation and drowsiness, and possibly dizziness, vertigo, a headache, confusion or disorientation, agitation or excitement.

Very rarely it could cause a severe anaphylactic reaction, but this would only occur in someone new to the drug.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/expert-says-sleeping-tablets-should-never-be-taken-with-alcohol/story-e6frf7jo-1225888234378

[yellowandback]

A COCKTAIL of caffeine, alcohol and sleeping pills may have caused troubled Tiger Ben Cousins' dramatic collapse.

A pill or 2, a glass of wine or 2 and some caffeine tablets considered a "cocktail"?

Lol at the media

[Penelope]

Samantha Lane;

But Cousins' girlfriend had trouble waking him yesterday morning and immediately called club doctor Greg Hickey, who drove over to his house.

Caroline Wilson;

Maylea telephoned club doctor Matt Chamberlain

Caroline Wilson;

Cousins' girlfriend Maylea Tinecheff, who had unsuccessfully tried to wake him about 11am

Jon Ralph;

Cousins, 32, was due at Punt Rd yesterday for a 9.30am recovery session, but as that deadline approached it was clear he was going to be a no-show.

These guys are just clowns, except Wilson. She is also a Gutter snipe.

Marianne Betts at least gave some real info

The most common adverse reaction to sleeping tablets was strong sedation, but they occasionally triggered agitation or anxiety, he said.

The side-effects of Temazepam, which Cousins has been linked to, was sedation and drowsiness, and possibly dizziness, vertigo, a headache, confusion or disorientation, agitation or excitement.

Which pretty much seems to be what has happened.
The drip due to dehydration is explained by this,

60 per cent of players admitted using No-Doz pre-game -- with 10 per cent reporting side-effects including dehydration, cramping and problems sleeping after matches.

So for what seems like a reaction to a practice common amongst AFL footballers, Wilson in particular had to associate it with drinking.

I hope someone in the media highlights her drinking habits, again and again, low life creature

[Infamy]

"Then players might want to calm down after a match and take Temazepam, which is just valium.

I'm sorry Peter Larkins, but how can you say such garbage when you are a doctor. They may both be benzodiazepine drugs, but they are not the same thing at all.

[Mr Magic]

All this wasted media space for a former champ clearly past his best.
Cousins is more celebrity than footballer these days.