WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized overnight for what appeared to be an adverse reaction to medication, but was released Thursday, a court spokeswoman said in a statement.
Ginsburg, 76, was taken to the Washington Hospital Center at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. She had taken a sleeping aid combined with cold medication immediately after boarding an overnight flight to London, England, the statement said.
"Prior to the plane taking off, the justice experienced extreme drowsiness, causing her to fall from her seat," the statement said. Paramedics were called and she was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
"Justice Ginsburg was evaluated at the hospital and she was found to be in stable health. Doctors attributed her symptoms to a reaction caused by the combination of a prescription sleeping aid and an over-the-counter cold medication," the statement said. "She was admitted overnight for observation and was released this morning."
Ginsburg and several other justices were headed for London to attend opening ceremonies for the newly established Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. It was unclear whether the other justices were on the same flight.
It was the second time in a month Ginsburg has been hospitalized. On September 24, she was admitted overnight after complaining of fatigue and light-headedness. The court said she fell ill in her chambers after receiving a treatment for iron deficiency.
Despite calls from her family and friends to slow down, sources close to Ginsburg said at the time she was planning to return to work just after her release from the hospital.
Ginsburg underwent surgery in February for pancreatic cancer, and was back on the bench 18 days later. She subsequently said she planned to undergo a "precautionary" course of chemotherapy. The sources said she was encouraged by a July medical exam that showed her in completely normal health.
Ginsburg has been on the Supreme Court since 1993, after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. Before reaching the high court, she was a law professor at Rutgers University School of Law and Columbia Law School, according to the Supreme Court. She also served as general counsel and on the national board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union.
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