Troubled actor Charlie Sheen has blamed a sleeping pill for causing him to act erratically during his infamous hotel meltdown in New York last year (10), because it wasn't part of his "normal blend" of drugs.
The Two and a Half Men star hit headlines back in October (10) when police were called to his suite at Manhattan's luxurious Plaza Hotel during a night of passion with adult actress Capri Anderson.
Sheen was alleged to have flown into a rage and trashed the room after accusing Anderson of taking his watch, causing the busty blonde to lock herself in the bathroom in terror. She subsequently lodged a second-degree harassment complaint against Sheen.
The actor has been open about his substance abuse issues in recent months as he battles TV chiefs over the suspension of his sitcom Two and a Half Men, but he insists illegal drugs were not to blame for the controversy in October (10) - it was prescription drug Ambien.
In an interview with U.S. news show 20/20, which aired on Tuesday night (01Mar11), Sheen says, "Ambien, the devil's aspirin! I think that led to that thing in New York. That was the one thing in the mix that was not part of my normal blend. I don't do pills... (but) I was so sleep challenged."