It's no surprise that sleeping pills are a common feature in American homes. Yet, studies show that over fifty million Americans struggle to sleep well. According to science, if you get less than seven hours of sleep a day, you aren’t getting enough. 1 Studies show that one is using a sleeping aid for every eight people who find adequate sleep a luxury.
Sleeping medications are effective in the treatment of sleeping disorders. They are also legal to use. Your doctor might recommend a sleeping pill for you. However, even prescription sleeping pills are subject to abuse. 2 Let’s find out what they are.
Sleeping pills are medicines used for sleeping. They work by triggering a desire to sleep. Sleeping pills will cause you to feel dizzy and calm. Popular types of sleeping pills are Benzodiazepine, Zolpidem, Zaleplon, Ramelteon, Eszopiclone, and antidepressants. 3
How Does Sleeping Pills Work?
For many body functions to occur, nerve cells must communicate with other body cells. Neurotransmitters carry these messages or signals. However, there are neurotransmitters called Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which do the reverse and slow down the nervous system. Sleeping tablets promote the work of the GABA neurotransmitter responsible for inducing sleep. 4
Signs of Sleeping Pill Addiction
Users of sleeping medications can begin to rely on their help more than they should. Taking too much of them or long-term sleeping pill use could lead to addiction. At this stage, the body finds it difficult to do without their presence.
There are signs that people with sleeping pills addiction exhibit. These include:
Garbled speech
Difficulty concentrating
Memory challenges
Mood swings
Dizziness
Odd dreams and nightmares
Hallucinations
Drowsiness during waking hours
If you notice any of these signs, you should contact and book an appointment with your doctor. You will also require the services of an addiction treatment center along the way.
Side Effects of Sleeping Pills
There are adverse medical conditions associated with sleeping medications. These risks of taking sleeping pills will manifest depending on the health of the user and the kind of sleep pill used. The common ones are: 5
Constipation
Problems keeping balance
Dry mouth
Gas
Headaches
Appetite changes
Shaking and weakness
If you notice any of these side effects, it's time to consult with your doctor. It would be best if you stopped or suspended your use of sleeping tablets.
Dangerous Interactions with Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills are good for health, and there is no such thing as a dangerous sleep pill. Sleeping aid pills are safe to the extent that you use them carefully. While you use any sleeping drug, you should be conscious of any drug interactions that could result from another medication or substance you use. Other drugs or substances could weaken the effect of sleep pills and cause dangerous effects. 6
Alcohol
Combining alcohol and sleeping drugs is far from friendly to the body. Alcohol and sleeping medications perform everyday functions. Both will cause dizziness and weaken body action.
When they perform these roles simultaneously in the same body, the effects become extreme and dangerous. For example, you will likely experience difficulty in proper brain functioning if you take sleeping pills after drinking.
Painkillers
The body resents the combination of sleeping pills and painkillers. So, if you find yourself in a position where you need both medications, you need to hear what your doctor has to say. Study shows that your risk of overdose increases when you take painkillers and sleeping pills simultaneously. Ninety-one Americans lose their lives daily due to opioid overdose. 7 Abstaining from combining those drugs is a big step in escaping opioid overdose and death.
Signs and Symptoms of Sleeping Pill Overdose
We may be tempted to take more of the medication for deep sleep than we should. The need to make up for long periods of sleep deprivation could lead to many beyond the doctor’s sleeping prescriptions. Typically, sleeping pills take up to thirty minutes to take effect.
For example, Zolpidem could take even up to an hour to put you to sleep. We could also be tempted to increase our dosage to hasten the work of the pills. For others, there is a curiosity to experience the ‘sleeping pill high,’ which is similar to the effect of intoxication. Overdosing on any sleeping drug is harmful to one's health.
Due to overdose, tablet addiction side effects will begin to show. Whatever the reason, sleeping pills abuse isn’t worth risking your health. Not sure if you have been overdosing? If you have been experiencing any of the following signs, you most likely have been overdosing on sleeping pills.
Speech Becomes Slurred
Have you been mispronouncing familiar words lately? Then, you probably have been overdosing on sleeping pills. Your speech may also have been fluctuating in rhythm or speed. Slurred speed is a significant sign of sleeping pill overdose.
Breathing Changes Occur
A sleeping pills overdose could cause irregularities in your breathing. If you notice any increased difficulty in breathing, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.
Changes in Emotions and Thinking
Overdosing on sleeping pills will alter your emotional character and thinking. Although it might take time to notice these changes, they should become evident after a while.
Sleeping pills abuse leads to addiction. When taking any medicine used for sleeping, ensure that a safe dosage guides you. If not, sleeping pill addiction symptoms will surface. Prescription sleeping pills are tailored to deliver the best result for specific types of sleeping difficulties. Therefore, you must stick to sleeping pills a doctor prescribed.
Treatment for Sleeping Pill Addiction at Genesis Recovery
Pill addiction signs are not difficult to notice. If you have developed a sleep pill addiction, you should seek help immediately. Sign up now for sleeping pill addiction treatment in a reputable treatment center.
An effective treatment center should be well-prepared to provide the following services.
Tapering
Tapering must be one of any sound sleeping pill addiction treatment services. Monitoring and directing a gradual reduction in sleeping pill use and dependence is key to ending addiction to sleeping pills.
Professional Advice
Giving expert guidance on the broad range of challenges surrounding drug use and substance use disorder treatment. This information includes helping to confirm tablet addiction side effects and determining the best treatment procedures to adopt.
Therapy
There are different types of sleeping pills and addiction treatment therapy. A result-driven treatment center should recommend and provide the solution that will best suit the needs of the individual with the use disorder.
After a successful sleeping pill addiction treatment, sleeping pill addiction symptoms should cease.
Genesis Recovery is one treatment center that provides a full range of sleep pill addiction treatment procedures. You can begin your journey to recovery right now. Give us a call now so that we can start the journey together.
Genesis Recovery is Licensed by the Department of Healthcare Services to provide Residential Treatment Services. License #370139AN Expiration 9/30/2024
