Dependent Upon Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills are often given for insomnia and are commonly referred to as sedative-hypnotics Sadly, many people become attached to them so much that an addiction arises. Countless people remedy short-term sleeplessness successfully with sleeping pills, but several of these users do become reliant on these pills. The numbers are worrying.
Between 2006 and 2011 about 38 million prescriptions were written for a standard sleeping pill, Ambien. Get in touch with us on for further details on getting a cure for a close friend or family trying to curb an addiction to soporifics.
With such easy access and a written go ahead given by medical practitioners, it is no surprise to see many people eventually fall into sleeping pill abuse and addiction.
There is often a wrong misconception that one cannot get dependent to sleeping pills, with some proponents of this idea claiming that their doctor told them so. However, there are those people who find it hard to fall asleep without using a pill or they require enhancing their dosage in order to sleep.
Most people do not figure out that they have actually been addicted to the substances until that time when they cease ingesting their sleeping pills. When the withdrawal symptoms hit them, that is when they realize they are addicted.
The following are more signs that a sleeping pill use has run out of control.
- Several unsuccessful attempts of quitting
- Craving for more sleeping drugs
- Seeking prescription refills from more than one healthcare provider
- Regardless of the repercussions, still consuming the tablet
- Suffering memory loss due to extended use
Many people start on the road to addiction by simply increasing their dosage. This is especially true when one does so without the prescription of a doctor.
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Learn About Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills are classified as sedative hypnotics, a certain group of drugs. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates, such as Xanax, are also part of this group. Contrary to other drugs under this classification, sleeping pills are usually non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. They are popularly referred to as "z-drugs" attributed to their ability to encourage sleep.
The impact of a majority of sleeping tablets that are not benzodiazepine related are the same, but each has unique atomic compositions. Just the same way benzodiazepines bind to the brain's GABA receptors and so do sleeping pills but side effects are believed to be few.
3 of the most popular sleeping drugs are
- Ambien (Zolpidem)
- Sonata (Zaleplon)
- Lunesta (Eszopiclone)
Sleeping Pills Abuse And Effects
Most sleeping pills are prescribed by doctors for short-term use only. Physicians prescribe the drugs for serious cases of insomnia but not essentially on strict administration timetable. As this medication is fast-acting, it can usually be used when it is needed.
However, most people get into the habit of using sleeping medication when they cannot sleep even if it is because they are anxious or stressed.
Misuse of the sleeping tablet is a term often used to describe the usage of sleeping tablets without the recommendation from a medical practitioner. Sleeping pills give the same feel-good drowsiness and similar effects as benzodiazepines, their highly addictive counterparts especially when taken at high dosages. For those who take sleeping pills but decide to fight the urge to sleep, hallucinations can begin.
The following are other effects of sleeping medications
- Decreased Apprehension
- Untroubled Sleep
- Poor coordination
- Faint feeling
- Nausea
- Visions
College and high school students are known to abuse sleeping pills as they seek to feel good. Common sleeping pills can either establish a feeling of drunkenness or exacerbate it when taken alongside alcohol. It is often easier for young people living at home to gain access to prescriptions either of their own or parents.
The brain function reactions of sleeping medication can be felt as early as the initial intake of the drug.
After some time, the brain gets used to the effects making recovery a big concern. In most cases, a person recovering from sleeping pills addiction will experience either rebound or compounded insomnia which much more aggravated as compared to when they began using the drug. The side-effect is a common one but should not be a scapegoat to cling on to the sleeping pills. This symptom, along with other withdrawal symptoms, can luckily be reduced by medically assisted detoxification.
Typical Drug Combos
Warning labels on the sleeping pill bottle recommend that sleeping pills should not be taken with alcohol, however numerous people ignore these labels.
Mixing sleeping pills such as Ambien can be lethal.
Alcohol amplifies the sedative effects of Ambien thereby exposing the user to a deadly overindulgence. However, people suffering from serious addiction in addition to chronic tolerance may be tempted to take alcohol enhance the strength of sleeping pills.
Drugs that are often combined with sleeping medication are
- Pain relievers
- Benzodiazepines
- Antidepressants
Sleeping Pill Abuse Statistics
In the absence of the proper cure and assistance, putting an end to a craving for soporifics can be difficult.