Ben Cousins in intensive care

Richmond's Ben Cousins has been hospitalised after a reaction to a sleeping tablet, the club says.

BEN Cousins is in intensive care in a Melbourne hospital after he suffered an adverse reaction to a prescribed sleeping pill.

Richmond say they are concerned for the health of the AFL veteran, who could not be roused on Monday morning.

Cousins' girlfriend contacted the Tigers when she could not wake the 32-year-old and, after he was examined by Richmond's doctor, he was taken to the Epworth Hospital by ambulance.

Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said Cousins would stay in hospital for the next day, at least.

Cameron admitted the Tigers were concerned about the midfielder's health.

"It's definitely concerning for his health and he's in hospital in intensive care and his condition won't really be known for the next 24 hours," he said.

"We are worried about his health."

Cameron said Cousins had taken a prescribed sleeping pill on Sunday night to help him "come down" after the Tigers beat Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.

Cousins is a recovering drug addict but Richmond have ruled out the latest incident as being related to his past.

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