LEDGER WAS ON AMBIEN

The Sydney Morning Herald says that Heath Ledger was taking the prescription sleeping pill Stilnox when he died.  Called Ambien in the United Stetes, the pill has been controversial in Australia recently because of several bizarre and potentially dangerous reactions.

Some 500 people described odd behaviours from walking, crashing cars, having sex and falling from balconies after popping a pill.In November, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reduced pack sizes and updated its warnings on the drug to protect people from its "worrying and potentially dangerous adverse effects".The most serious of the newly-listed side-effects included "rage reactions, worsened insomnia, confusion, agitation, hallucinations and other forms of unwanted behaviour".

TMZ among others reported yesterday that Ledger may have had pneumonia when he died.  The product information for Stilnox warns against taking the medicine if you have a severe respiratory condition and shortness of breath, which pneumonia can obviously cause.  Others causes for shortness of breath include seeing my buns, but that is not believed to be a consideration at this time.

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