For those that suffer from insomnia, doctors can prescribe sleeping pills, which are sedatives that help you fall asleep. Unfortunately, while medications like Ambien can treat insomnia, sleeping pill addiction can occur. Sleeping pill addiction can create significant issues, including preventing you from sleeping without prescription medications. Sleeping pills can be both physically and psychologically addictive, making it hard to stop using sleeping pills without help from an Ambien addiction treatment center in California.
In short, insomnia is a common sleep disorder that impacts roughly 30% of Americans each year. About 1 out of every 10 Americans develop chronic insomnia, which can lead to exhaustion and diminished productivity. When you struggle with chronic insomnia, lack of sleep can cause mood changes and fatigue. While sleeping, your body works to heal. If you are unable to sleep, your immune system can become compromised and you can have difficulty with concentrating and cognition.
What are Sleeping Pills?
Sleeping pills like Ambien are sedatives and hypnotics. Ambien is not a benzodiazepine and works by increasing the amount of GABA your brain releases. GABA is a type of neurotransmitter that creates calming and sedative effects. Ambien was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1992 and is considered a Schedule IV drug. Temazepam is another commonly prescribed sleeping pill in the United States that was released in the 1960s. Unlike Ambien, Temazepam is a benzodiazepine, making Temazepam sleeping pill addiction a serious potential risk.
Sleeping pills help release GABA to help you sleep. When you suffer from insomnia, medications are sometimes necessary to help normalize your sleep. Medications like Ambien and Temazepam are best utilized for short-term treatment (2-6 weeks). The risk of sleeping pill addiction is one of the reasons why prescription sleeping pills are typically used for short periods of time.
Sleeping pill addiction symptoms can include:
- Inability to sleep without using sleeping pills
- Using more sleeping pills than prescribed
- Using sleeping pills without a prescription
- Running out of sleeping pills before you are due for a refill
- Not feeling normal without taking sleeping pills
While sleeping pills are beneficial for many people struggling with insomnia, they can become addictive. When you are addicted to sleeping pills, an Ambien addiction treatment center in California is oftentimes necessary in order to fully recover.
Sleeping Pill Addiction
Sleeping pill addiction can cause you to become physically and psychologically dependent on sleeping pills. When you become addicted to sleeping pills, your brain chemistry changes and your brain begins to reward sleeping pill use by releasing excessive amounts of neurotransmitters. Over time, your brain is dependent on sleeping pills in order to release neurotransmitters and can cause you to experience intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use.
If you stop using sleeping pills, you can deal with troubling and overwhelming withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can become serious and cause mood changes, depression and seizures. Treatment for sleeping pill addiction includes both inpatient and outpatient options. Inpatient treatment is the highest level of care available for sleeping pill addiction and provides you with 24/7 access to medical staff. Some inpatient programs also provide medically supervised detox services, which can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Short-term inpatient programs last for up to 28 days, while long-term residential programs may last for more than 90 days.
Outpatient programs can include partial hospitalization, individual counseling and intensive outpatient programs.
Finding Help Today
If you are struggling with a sleeping pill addiction, reaching out for help is the first step of the recovery process. Pillars Recovery is a leading substance abuse treatment center that offers you the support, guidance, and understanding you need to recover. Call us today at 866.782.0247 to learn more about our programs.
