Duterte admits taking sleeping pills

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted Friday that he was taking prescribed sleeping pills.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of his children, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, the President revealed that he was using a sleeping pill called Stilnox.

It is used to initiate and maintain sleep for those with sleeping difficulties or insomnia.
“I take Stilnox to sleep. Prescribed’ yan. Tulog ka talaga because Stilnox makatulog ka lang ng six hours, parang nag-hit ka ng mga eight,” he said.

(It’s prescribed. You’ll fall asleep for six hours but it feels like eight hours.)

The President had previously admitted using the pain reliever fentanyl after a motorcycle accident when he was 68 years old.

According to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is an opioid pain reliever that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

It is prescribed for cancer pain and other chronic ailments. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

READ: Duterte: I’m in perpetual pain