BEN Cousins has requested he be drug tested by the AFL to prove beyond doubt illicit drugs were not the reason why he was hospitalised this week.

The Richmond footballer was discharged from Melbourne's Epworth Hospital on Tuesday, having spent Monday night in intensive care for what the club described as a "severe reaction to sleep medication".

In a statement released at 4pm on Tuesday, the Tigers said they expect Cousins - who continues to battle drug addiction - to make a full recovery.

"The most important thing over the past 24 hours has been Ben's health and the club is pleased he is expected to make a full recovery," Tigers' general manager of football Craig Cameron said.

"No decision has been made on his immediate playing future."

A concoction of caffeine tablets, glasses of wine and sleeping tablets are believed to be the reason why Cousins was unable to be roused by his girlfriend on Monday morning and was rushed by ambulance to hospital.

"Players are continually counselled on the correct use of prescribed medication and the club will continue to be vigilant to ensure players are well informed," Cameron said.

The statement then added: "Beyond this, Ben has requested he also be drug tested by the AFL to prove beyond doubt that illicit drugs were not involved".

Cousins already is drug tested up to three times a week.

The use of caffeine stimulants and sleeping tablets by AFL players is under again the spotlight following Cousins' health scare.

AFL Coaches Association boss Danny Frawley told backpagelead.com.au on Tuesday that he would seek feedback from all coaches on the issue.

"What I'll do is send an email to the coaches," he said.

"(But) the doctors get all the players to sign what they can and cannot take."

St Kilda superstar Lenny Hayes said that caffeine tablets, traditionally the No-Doz variety, were "used fairly commonly throughout the AFL" as players sought that added adrenaline surge before games.

"Personally, every now and again I use them but it just depends on a week to week thing. It's not something that I do every week, or have every week before a game. But every player is different," he said on Tuesday.

Hayes said players found it difficult to unwind, particularly after night matches.

"With the sleeping tablets, when you are playing night games it can be very hard to unwind," he said.

"Again, it's not something personally that I use every week but occasionally, when you are lying bed late at night and you need some sleep, you have got a short break before the next game, it is something that I have used in the past.

"Again, it depends on the individual, some guys have no worries after a game, they are pretty tired and get to sleep but other guys are wound up, had a really good win, it can be hard to get to sleep."

Cousins, however, took his sleeping tablets hours after the Tigers' Sunday-afternoon clash against the Swans.

Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace said caffeine tablets were taken by "a lot" of players, having researched this trend four years ago when then Tigers forward Nathan Brown admitted to using them.