Sleeping Pills Addiction Treatment

Call Now To Get On The Road To Recovery

*As required by law, all communications with Resurgence Behavioral Health are HIPAA Compliant and 100% Confidential

Rehab for Dependence on Sleeping Pills

If you are a heavy user of sleeping pills, you may need rehab. Not only does long-term use of sleeping pills negatively affect the body, but users may also experience rebound insomnia and/or disturbing dreams when attempting to quit. A sleeping pill addiction can be very dangerous.

In rehab, you can recover from your dependence on sleeping pills. You will undergo a medically assisted detox period and participate in targeted therapies to help you recover and stay away from sleeping pills. Some of these therapies might include cognitive-behavioral therapy, known as CBT.

Let’s dive into how to reduce the negative effects of sleeping pills, and how to identify if a rehab program may be right for you.

Understanding Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills are sedative medications that are meant to be used to treat short-term insomnia or other sleep disorders. Commonly prescribed sleeping pills include Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Restoril, and Rozerem. Sleeping pill addiction can be treated with a combination of therapies, including counseling, as well as gradually tapering off the medication.

Reducing the dosage slowly, under medical supervision, helps reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Side-Effects

Common side-effects of sleeping pills include:

• Daytime dizziness
• Headaches in the morning
• Grogginess
• Short-term memory loss
• Nightmares when stopping pills
• Aches and pains
• Increased risk of dementia
• Drug dependence
• Addiction

Understanding the Need for Sleeping Pill Rehab

Sleeping pills are in the same category of drugs as barbiturates and benzodiazepines like Xanax. This category is known as sedative-hypnotics. Although sleeping pills are similar to benzodiazepines, they are actually considered non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. They are sometimes referred to as “z-drugs” because they help to induce sleep.

The 3 most common sleeping pills are:

• Ambien, known as zolpidem.
• Sonata, known as zaleplon.
• Lunesta, known as eszopiclone.

All non-benzodiazepine sleeping pills have similar effects. Sleeping pills bind to GABA receptors in the brain, just as benzodiazepines do, but they are believed to have fewer side effects than benzos

Sleeping Pill Addiction

Short-term insomnia is often treated with sleeping pills. The trouble is that it is very easy to become dependent on them. Still, sleeping pills are very common. For instance, there were around 38 million prescriptions for Ambien written between 2006 and 2011. Even though sleeping pills may seem harmless, they are actually extremely addictive.

If you were already having trouble sleeping before taking sleeping pills, stopping the use of sleeping pills can make sleeping even more difficult. As your tolerance to sleeping pills increases, you may find you need to take larger doses to get to sleep. This can begin a dangerous cycle that may lead to dependence and addiction, and thus the need to go to sleeping pill rehab.

You may not realize you are dependent or addicted until you try to stop taking the pills. This leads to withdrawal symptoms which can signify an addiction.

Signs of Sleeping Pill Addiction

Although you may not consider it to be an addiction, increasing your dose without speaking to your doctor is considered an addictive behavior. Other signs of sleeping pill addiction that can lead to sleeping pill rehab include:

• Trying multiple times to quit.
• Experiencing cravings for sleeping medications.
• Seeing more than one doctor obtain multiple prescriptions.
• Taking pills despite negative consequences.
• Experiencing memory loss from the pills.

Mental Illness and Sleeping Pill Rehab

For anyone seeking treatment, it is important to identify any and all mental illnesses that are present. This is incredibly important because this is called a dual diagnosis. Mental illnesses are often, but not always, underlying causes of addiction. Dual diagnosis is also known as co-existing disorders.

If you suffer from addiction, you are twice as likely to be suffering from a mental illness as well. Similarly, if you suffer from a mental illness, then you are twice as likely to suffer from a substance abuse disorder. This means that if you choose to go to sleeping pill rehab, you need a facility that can treat both disorders.

Sleeping Pill Rehab Treatment

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, known as CBT, is effective at treating a sleeping pill addiction. This method of therapy helps to teach healthy sleep habits without the use of drugs. When CBT works, it can aid in increased energy and improved concentration.

When you are addicted to sleeping pills, your brain changes. This means that recovery can be a long process. Doctors often state that it can take up to a year for your brain to become healthy again after a chronic addiction. If you have a severe addiction, seek an inpatient rehab program today.

Inpatient Sleeping Pill Rehab

If you have a severe addiction to sleeping pills, then inpatient sleeping pill rehab can help. Inpatient rehab is also known as residential treatment. It is a safe place to recover from your addiction. You will stay at the facility for the duration of your inpatient treatment.

Inpatient treatment is also well suited to those struggling with a dual diagnosis or with addictions to more than one substance. Inpatient rehab is intensive and structured. You should expect to go to group meetings and therapy, and you may be allowed family visits.

Aftercare

Relapse is possible with recovery from any addiction. This is why it is important to continue treatment after your initial rehab period. There are many different factors that can lead to a relapse, including:

• Stress
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety
• Cravings

Even after inpatient treatment ends, you should seek out support groups, counseling, or other forms of aftercare. Being in these situations teaches you how to live your life of sobriety and stay clean

Preventing Relapse

The best way to prevent relapse is to maintain a healthy sleep schedule after treatment.

Tips to prevent relapse include:

• Exercise on a schedule: Exercising each day has many benefits, including reducing stress, reducing restlessness, and calming the mind. Even moderate exercise such as walking can help you fall asleep faster and calm your mind, allowing you to sleep more easily.
• Go to bed at the same time: Each person has a different internal clock. When your clock becomes imbalanced, it leads to inconsistent bedtimes. When you force yourself to go to bed at the same time every night, then you will eventually find yourself getting on a good sleep schedule.
• Target the underlying causes: Insomnia is often related to anxiety and depression. If you are suffering from a mental disorder, then you may struggle with sleep. Remain connected to support groups and therapy in order to address any underlying concerns.

Contact Us Today To Get Started

If you are struggling with a sleeping pill addiction, you are not alone. It is never too late to get started on your road to recovery.

Contact us at Resurgence Behavioral Health to learn more about all of our sleeping pill rehab programs and about our free insurance verification. We are here to help you on the road to recovery.