Mystery meds: Derick Hougaard admits to taking opioids [listen]

Former Springboks player Derick Hougaard has admitted to taking a cocktail of meds in the lead-up to his hellish hospital scare that landed him in a coma in the ICU.

The retired rugby player – who, according to his ex-wife Karlien van Jaarsveld had an “alcohol and prescription pill addiction”- broke his silence in an interview with Jacaranda FM.

Derick spent almost three weeks at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in June. This, after his partner found him unconscious at his Pretoria home.

The 40-year-old was given a “50/50” chance of survival and was placed on a ventilator.

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DERICK HOUGAARD ADMITS TO TAKING THESE MEDS

Speaking to The Drive with Rob & Roz, Derick Hougaard shared a health update after his near-death experience. He also claimed that the first nine days of his hospital stay was “a blank”.

Reflecting on the days before being admitted into the hospital, he said: “Things were looking up and falling into place. The next thing, I woke up nine days later in the hospital. It was scary

Derick also admitted to consuming a variety of meds before the ordeal.

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They include:

• Dopaquel, which treats both  anxiety and manic episodes
• Trazodone, a strong anti-depressant that also doubles as a sleeping tablet.
• Opioids, found in prescription pain medication, that was discovered in his bloodstream.

According to Derick, he had used the cocktail of meds to help him relax and sleep peacefully.

He said: “In my mind, it doesn’t make sense that they are the reason for the relapse.”

According to a Facebook post by ex-wife Karlien van Jaarsvelf in 2018, Derrick has “been in and out of rehab several times.” She also claimed he had an “alcohol and prescription pill” addition”, and had to have “supervised” visits with their two children.

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Over the years, Derick has admitted to being addicted to pills after suffering a rugby injury in 2011.

SIDE EFFECTS OF OPIOIDS, SLEEPING TABLETS

According to various Facebook posts of Nadine, Derick Hougaard was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. This occurs when food or liquids are breathed into their airways, instead of being digested.

It’s unclear whether the medication he ingested had any relation to the respiratory illness.

According to WebMD,  opioids and anxiety and depression meds – like the ones taken by Derick – can include a variety of side effects,

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They include:

• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Delirium
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Physical dependence
• Respiratory depression