Sleeping Pill Withdrawal and Detox

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What is Sleeping Pill Withdrawal and Detox?

Sleeping pill withdrawal is a medical issue that affects many Americans, jeopardizing their health and well-being. Sleeping pills are a form of medication intended to help with sleeplessness. These pills can be found in over-the-counter varieties, such as ZZZQuil and Aleve PM, or prescription pills.

Common prescription sleep aids include Lunesta, Zolpidem, also known as Ambien, Edluar, and Zolpimist. Although these drugs may seem harmless, they can be quite dangerous due to their strong sedative properties. They also become tolerated by the body quickly, requiring larger doses to achieve similar effects, resulting in addiction.

The frequency of their use exacerbates the potential for addiction and overdose in these anti-insomnia drugs. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to fall asleep or stay asleep. Research suggests that 30% of the adult population experiences some symptoms of insomnia.

Additionally, 10% of the population reports experiencing insomnia that results in daytime impairment and distress. Insomnia leads to sleep deprivation, which impairs work performance, relationships, reasoning, and emotional health. It is not surprising that sleep aids are commonly used for treatment. 39.4 million prescriptions for Ambien alone were dispensed in the year 2011.

However, the nervous system depressants impact the brain’s chemical balance of the brain and can easily lead to dependence. Since they impair cognitive function, reduce heart rate, and slow respiration, a fatal overdose is possible with too much drug in the bloodstream.

Consuming too many sleeping pills also heightens the severity of addiction and subsequent withdrawal.  And unfortunately, this can happen even when the drugs are taken as prescribed. A study recently found that most prescriptions for zolpidem dispensed to women were above the recommended dose despite warnings from the FDA.

The withdrawal from sleeping pills can mirror symptoms that the user has tried to escape, such as sleeplessness and anxiety. So the cycle of addiction and withdrawal can soon feel almost inescapable. Many wonder how to get off sleeping pills.

In some extreme cases, the stress of withdrawal and craving for more medication can result in self-harm or suicide. But relief is possible. And with the support of the dedicated team at Resurgence Behavioral Health, you can find the peace and freedom you deserve.

Effects of Sleeping Pill Withdrawal and Detox

Sleeping pill addiction, mental health issues, and insomnia are closely interconnected – perpetuated by withdrawal and painful, anxiety-inducing symptoms. By itself, insomnia can be a serious health issue requiring medical attention. Many people experience short-term insomnia throughout their lives, but those who suffer from prolonged insomnia develop a physical and mental health crisis. If it is impossible to sleep without taking Ambien, seek help now!

Research shows that prolonged sleeplessness results in impaired cognitive function, erratic behavior, high blood pressure, heart failure, paranoia, diabetes, and stroke. There can also be an increased risk for serious, sometimes fatal accidents, such as car accidents and fatal falls. Furthermore, the interpersonal challenges that stem from sleepless can result in job loss, isolation, and further depression.

Any deliberate or accidental combination of sleeping pill use and other substances, such as alcohol, only compounds the effects of the cycle. This cycle of withdrawal and addiction soon becomes unmanageable.

Moreover, the symptoms of sleeping pill withdrawal can be prolonged and serious and often include:

• Sweating
• Tremors
• Cramps
• Uncontrollable sadness and depression
• Panic attacks
• Delirium
• Insomnia
• Hyperventilation
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Exhaustion
• Seizures
• Vomiting

The symptoms can be extreme for up to a week and moderate for an additional two weeks. The duration and amount of use factor into the severity of withdrawal, also whether other drugs are used in conjunction. Mental health issues can also play a role in the severity of withdrawal and in the likelihood of relapse.

Mental illness and Sleeping Pill Withdrawal and Detox

Insomnia is often caused by mental illness and plays a role in the continuation of mental health issues. Studies show that stress, anxiety, depression, and recent trauma can all result in insomnia – all of which are worsened by sleep deprivation.

While sleep aids provide people with relief from insomnia, these drugs can pose dangers for individuals suffering from significant mental health issues. Many people take sleep aids to relieve insomnia caused by short-term worries, like a new job.

Since insomnia due to unresolved depression or trauma is unlikely to dissipate with time, the sleeping medication masks an underlying issue. These underlying issues often lead to drug dependence or abuse. For this reason, those who have chronic insomnia must seek professional help to treat the underlying cause of their ailment. If they do not, they will likely have to address these mental health issues as part of a drug recovery plan.

However, hope is near. Resurgence Behavioral Health can provide relief from sleeping pill addiction. We also provide mental health counseling to help address underlying issues of depression, trauma, PTSD, and anxiety. We will show you how to get off sleeping pills for good.

This holistic approach helps build meaningful coping skills and decreases the likelihood of relapse.

Treatment and Sleeping Pill Withdrawal and Detox

To recover from sleeping pill addiction and withdrawal, physical addiction and underlying mental health issues will need to be addressed together. The first step will likely be medical detoxification.

This detoxification will take place in a supervised setting and may take several days. During this time, medical staff help prevent self-harm and manage severe side effects like seizures and cardiovascular issues.

Immediate Placement in Rehab for Addiction to Sleeping Pills

Drugs like quetiapine may also be prescribed to help manage the painful side effects of withdrawal. Once the sleeping medication has left the system, treatments are available to help manage the root cause of initial addiction. Counseling and group therapies will provide peer support, 12-step programs, spiritual services, nutrition programming, and other resources.

Additionally, non-addictive medications may be prescribed to improve sleep quality and non-medical interventions, such as relaxation therapy. Surrounded by proper support systems and empowered with new approaches to mental health, you can build a happier, healthier life.

Payment Information

At Resurgence Behavioral Health, it’s our goal to remove barriers to your recovery. We believe you should focus on your recovery, not your insurance. And we offer payment plans and options to fit almost any budget. We accept most PPO insurance and private forms of payment and will even communicate with your insurance provider on your behalf.

Just contact Resurgence Behavioral Health, and let your recovery begin.

How to Get Help

You are not alone in your journey to recovery. Resurgence Behavioral Health is a safe, judgment-free environment in which you can relax, connect, and find freedom from addiction. Our experienced team understands what you’re facing, and we are here to support you every step of the way.  With locations in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, and Fullerton Hills, and an Outpatient Campus, your recovery is closer than you think.

And we can assist with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, one to one counseling, 12-step programs, family counseling, spiritual assistance, yoga, and more. Our evidence-based programs can help you build the coping strategies required to leave a life of addiction behind. We can also help build strategies to manage issues of mental health, sleeplessness, and anxiety in the future.

Call Resurgence today and experience your new beginning.