Addiction To Sleep Medications

 

It is estimated that close to a third of all Americans do use sleeping pills as a remedy to various sleeping conditions such as insomnia. These sleep medications do offer relief to the numerous sufferers of Insomnia which is a nasty condition. The danger lies in the fact that due to prolonged usage there is a possibility of developing an addiction.

Addiction to sleeping pills refers to the level of dependence on the drugs such that any attempt to stop taking the medication results in withdrawal symptoms just like any other drugs. The truth of the matter is that no one sets out to be an addict to these pills. It often starts out as a prescription remedy for various sleep disorders. The feeling created by sleeping pills is similar to that of alcohol or drugs and the user may start using the sleep medication to escape their problems.

There is a real danger in getting addicted to sleeping pills. Drugs such as Lunesta, Sonata, or even Ambien are good in the treatment of various sleeping conditions but abuse of the same will result in the following. Loss of interest in hobbies, inability to reduce the dosage of sleeping pills, withdrawal symptoms, denial, defensiveness about the use of drugs, increased neglect of their personal duties and responsibilities, neglect of persona; hygiene, and increased tolerance to the drug.

The treatment of the addiction to sleeping pills is done by gradually reducing the amount of pills taken till the user is off the drugs completely. The reason why this is so is that getting off the medication is the only safe treatment option. The user slowly gets off the drug by gradually reducing the dosage to avoid any withdrawal symptoms. Long term addiction may require an actual visit to a rehabilitation center to undergo a more intensive program to get off the addiction.

What to Consider Before Using Sleep Medications

 

Insomnia can be a very stressful disorder that eats away at you more and more with every second you lay awake. With the torturous thoughts racing through your head all night, striving for enough sleep to make it through the next day, you may be tempted to turn to over the counter sleep aids or prescription sleep medications. While these medications can be helpful to those with a severe insomnia problem, here are some things to consider before you take those pills.

Is The Problem Persistent?

Has your problem with lack of sleep continued for weeks or even months? Is the problem persistent and reoccurring, or is it just a bad week with stress affecting your sleep patterns? If the problem is stress-related, sleeping pills may give you a quick bit of rest, but are not addressing the underlying cause of the sleeplessness.

Do You Drink Alcohol?

Alcohol has a very strong effect on sleep patterns. When you sleep, with alcohol in your system, you are not getting the restful sleep that your body needs to recharge its batteries. Alcohol-sleep will keep building up until you get the real rest that you need, without alcohol in your system. 

How Long Do You Plan On Taking the Sleep Aids?

Sleep aids are not meant to be taken every single night! Sleep aids can be very beneficial if used once in a great while to get back into a normal and healthy sleeping pattern, but is never meant to be a replacement for how you fall asleep.

In-closing, always be very conscious of how you are using sleep aids and prescription sleep medications, or the risk of abuse or addiction to the medications becomes very great. Always check with your doctor before using both over the counter sleep aids and prescription sleep medications.