Funnyman Steve Martin has vowed to stop taking prescription drugs to help him sleep, after discovering he developed a bizarre online poker habit after dozing off.

The 63-year-old comedic actor sought medical help to cope with his restless nights, when doctors suggested he take prescription drug Ambien, typically used as a short-term treatment of insomnia.

But its hypnotic effects were too much for Martin, who quit the drug after a lucky night of gambling - because he was so stunned he didn't remember playing The Game.

He says, "For a while I played internet poker when it was legal - until I had one of those Ambien experiences. It was late at night and I was playing poker... I took an Ambien to go to sleep and I had $500 (£357) in my account, I quit, and I went to bed.

"I woke up the next morning... and I had $1,500 (£1,070) in my account, and I said, 'Oh, they made a mistake...' So I called the guy in Pakistan, and he said, 'No we have your I.P. (Internet Protocal) address, we have you playing between four and five in the morning...' I never took an Ambien again."