Sleeping Pills Symptoms and Signs

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Are Sleeping Pills Bad For You?

The misuse of sleeping pills is sweeping the U.S. Those of us who have insomnia, welcome sleeping pills to help us get to sleep.

However, when we begin taking these drugs with honest intent, we can become addicted, leading to abuse. Are sleeping pills bad for you? Yes, they absolutely can be.

What are Sleeping Pills?

Sleeping pills are prescription (and over-the-counter) drugs that treat insomnia.

Insomnia affects 31.6% of adults over the age of 18. Prescription sleeping pills are sedatives/hypnotics, which causes relaxation and drowsiness.

These drugs belong to the benzodiazepine or benzodiazepine receptor (antidepressants) agonist class.

2011-2014: Those with Insomnia

• 18-24-year-olds 31.7%
• 25-44-year-olds 36.4%
• 45-64-year-olds 33.8%
• 65-74-year-olds 25.1%
• 75+-year-olds 22%

2015

• 72.7% of students in grades 9-12 struggled with insomnia.

Brand Names (Prescription)

Benzodiazepines

• Ambien, Ambien CR (zolpidem tartrate)
• Lunesta (eszopiclone)
• Restoril (temazepam)
• Halcion (triazolam)
• Sonata (zaleplon)
• Rozerem (ramelteon)
• Dalmane (flurazepam hydrochloride)
• Prosom (estazolam)

Antidepressants

• Desyrel (trazodone)
• Elavil (amitriptyline)
• Belsomra (suvorexant)
• Silenor (doxepin)

The Abuse of Sleeping Pills

Abusing prescription sleeping pills is dangerous. Users who take these drugs for reasons other than what they are intended for are abusing them. Dependency causes us to panic when we run out of them, leading to gaining more in illicit manners.

Are sleeping pills bad for you to take every night? If taken as prescribed as a short-term treatment, you may experience side effects. However, crossing that boundary puts you at a higher risk of dangerous health risks, addiction, coma, overdose, or death.

2010

• A 220% increase in emergency room visits were related to Zolpidem.

2016

• Zolpidem was one of the “Top 10” overdose drugs.

Side Effects of Sleeping Pills

How are sleeping pills bad for you when it comes to side effects? Not everyone experiences the same side effects.

Are sleeping pills bad for you if you intentionally stay awake after taking them? When we do something like this, we are abusing the drug. Parasomnia results, causing many odd and highly dangerous behaviors.

• Sleep driving
• Sleepwalking
• Sleep sex
• Sleep shopping
• Sleep texting or posting on social media
• Sleep eating
• Sleep cooking

Common Side Effects

• Drowsiness
• Lightheadedness
• Impaired thinking and functioning
• Headache
• Drunkenness or a sense of being “drugged”
• Flatulence
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Abdominal pain
• Uncontrollable shaking
• Numbness in extremities
• Pain or burning in extremities
• Dry mouth
• Tinnitus
• Red eyes
• Muscle aches or cramping
• Hoarseness
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting
• Chest pain
• Blurred vision

Long-term Side Effects

Are sleeping pills bad for you when used long-term? They can be. One of the biggest concerns with long-term use of sleeping pills is addiction. Addiction causes us to build up tolerance requiring higher doses. This can easily lead to overdose or death.

• Dependence
• Withdrawal symptoms; nausea, fatigue, panic attacks, anxiety, uncontrollable crying
• Overdose
• Death

Do sleeping pills make you depressed if you take them long-term? We highly advise you to consult with your physician about any pre-existing depression before starting a sleeping pill treatment.

Overdose Symptoms:

• Coma
• Unresponsiveness
• Death

Mental Illness and Sleeping Pills

Are sleeping pills bad for those of us with mental disorders? Insomnia is often a secondary condition associated with many mental disorders. When we struggle with insomnia and a mental disorder, our physician may prescribe a sleeping pill or an antidepressant to help us sleep.

Some of us may try to take higher doses of a sleeping pill, especially when the symptoms of our mental disorder worsen. Doing so puts you in danger of overdosing. Can sleeping tablets make you depressed? There has not been any direct link between sleeping pills and depression. However, suicidal tendencies are increased by taking sleeping pills.

Treatment for a Sleeping Pill Addiction

Deciding to get help for an addiction to sleeping pills is the first step in the right direction. However, now comes the part where you will need to get professional treatment. Trying to overcome an addiction on your own is not only tough, but relapse can easily happen.

Resurgence California specializes in sleeping pill addictions, and we understand what the addiction does to you. You have a team of people here who will be your biggest cheerleaders to get you through treatment and across the finish line! It is up to you to make the phone call.

Don’t struggle with second-guessing whether or not you need help. If you are in doubt and can answer yes to any of the below, you need help.

• Are you unable to sleep without your sleeping pills?
• When you run out of your prescription sleeping pills, do you panic?
• Are you taking higher doses than prescribed to get to sleep?
• Are you intentionally staying awake after taking sleeping pills to “chill?”
• Do you seek more sleeping pills through illicit means if your doctor refuses to refill yours?

Getting treatment here at Resurgence California is essentially giving yourself the gift of a new start and a cleaner life. Residents at one of our 19 locations can choose from standard to luxury accommodations and amenities. We want you to be comfortable during your time here.

Residents come from all walks of life, which include celebrities, VIPs, CEOs, executives, homemakers, young adults, and more! We have gender-specific centers if you prefer a ladies-only or men-only environment. Our centers offer faith-based or holistic treatments that focus on healing for not only the body and mind but the soul.

We want you to feel like family while in treatment. You’ll discover the peaceful and healing atmosphere is soothing, helping you to fully relax and get better. You will have a treatment plan that is designed around your specific needs.

Treatment is done through evidence-based therapies which include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

• Detox

You will have options for detoxing that include medical detox.

• Partial Inpatient Hospitalization

Once detox is complete, you continue treatment while easing back into life.

• Outpatient

You will attend scheduled visits to continue therapy.

• Intensive Outpatient Therapy

This is an option for those of us who need to schedule our visits around our busy lives.

Payment and Insurance

Our secure online payment service provides you with a convenient way to make payments.

We do offer payment plans if you need to spread payments out.

Our staff will be happy to contact your insurance on your behalf to verify coverage.

We accept most PPO insurances. If you do not see your insurance in our listing below, give us a call.

• Assurant Health
• Vista Insurance Partners
• Humana
• Ameritas Group
• Health Net
• Cigna
• Horizon Blue Cross
• Premera Blue Cross
• Blue Cross Blue Shield

When you choose Resurgence California, you get the very best! We are your home away from home while you get the help you need.

If you need anything to make your stay here more comfortable or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Take that first step.

We are waiting for your call!