A JUDGE has issued an arrest warrant for beleaguered rocker Courtney Love after she failed to attend a court hearing in drug possession charges.

But Beverly Hills Judge Elden Fox stayed the order until Tuesday, the date of Love's next hearing, meaning that the widow of legendary grunge rocker Curt Cobain will be arrested if she fails to make that court date.

Love's lawyer William Genego told the judge that she did not show up because of "security concerns", but said Love was "on call", if needed in court.

It was unclear if the security worries were linked to an incident at her last court hearing, in which someone tried to chase down a car in which she was travelling.

The former Hole front woman and movie actress had been arrested for possession of the medical drugs hydrocodone and oxycodone, found when police were called to her Beverly Hills mansion on October 2.

The hearing was scheduled to determine if Love, 39, would plead guilty to the charges and agree to go into a drug diversion program, Jane Robison of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office said.

Robison said that if Love attended Tuesday's hearing "she won't be arrested, but if she does not show up, she will be arrested".

Police picked up Love on October 2 on the drug possession charges, just hours after she was arrested a first time when officers found her standing in her nightgown outside a home where a burglary was reported.

After allegedly admitting to breaking the windows of an ex-boyfriend's house, she was taken to a police station where she was noted to be under the influence of drugs but was later released on $US2500 ($3200) bail.

But just hours later, police and paramedics were called to her home and Love was reportedly taken to hospital to be treated for an overdose after reportedly ingesting more than 20 milligrams of oxycodone, a strong pain relief drug with an effect said to be similar to heroin.

But the platinum-blonde singer and songwriter, who has battled addiction to drugs including heroin, has described the charges as "retarded".

The always controversial Love was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her role in the hit movie The People vs. Larry Flynt, in which she played the drug addict wife of Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt.

Agence France-Presse