Sleeping Pill Addiction And Abuse

Can You Become Addicted To Sleeping Pills?

Sleeping pills can be habit-forming, which means you can develop an addiction to them.

One of the most significant factors in sleeping pill addiction is how long you take the drug and how much you take. Someone addicted to sleeping pills may exhibit compulsive behaviors when seeking and using sleeping pills. They may also continue to use sleeping pills even though they experience negative consequences as a result. Some may even abuse sleeping pills to feel a high or a sense of euphoria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans use sleeping pills to help with insomnia and other sleep disturbances. According to the National Health Survey Interview (NHSI) results, 8.5% of adults took sleep medications daily. Caucasian females over 65 were among the participants with the highest numbers.

Sleeping pills change how the brain functions to help you fall and stay asleep. The more you take them, the more the brain becomes dependent on them. If you stop taking them, you may experience uncomfortable sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms. However, not everyone who becomes dependent on sleeping pills develops an addiction, although it is a risk factor.

Types Of Sleeping Pills

There are multiple categories of sleeping pills, and although most sleeping pills have different molecular makeups, they all have similar effects. The categories include the following:

Nonbenzodiazepine Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists

Zaleplon (Sonata), zolpidem (Ambien), and eszopiclone (Lunesta) are non-benzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. They are considered hypnotics because they slow brain activity so you can fall asleep. They may also be known casually as Z drugs.

Benzodiazepines

Clonazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam, and temazepam are examples of benzodiazepines, often prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disorders, sedation for medical procedures, and alcohol withdrawal.

Melatonin Receptor Agonists

Melatonin is sold as a natural, over-the-counter supplement. It helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle by helping you fall and stay asleep. It is recognized as a first-line therapy for insomnia but is also used for managing brain injuries from post-traumatic stress, jetlag, neurodegenerative disorders, and migraines.

Antihistamines

Drugs like diphenhydramine and doxylamine are found in many antihistamines, like Benadryl and Unisom. They bind to either the H1 or H2 receptors in the brain. They are typically marketed to treat symptoms related to allergies, gastrointestinal issues, sinusitis, motion sickness, and more. However, they are also taken by many who struggle to fall or stay asleep.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are not approved to treat sleep conditions, but they may be effective off-label for some people, especially when other methods fail. Doctors typically prescribe low-dose antidepressants, including the following examples:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Heterocyclic antidepressants (HCAs)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Most doctors who prescribe sleep medications also recommend you seek counseling to learn skills that can help you fall asleep. These include mindfulness techniques, like deep breathing, meditation, and counting, so that you can eventually stop taking the medication.

Signs Of Sleeping Pill Addiction And Abuse

Abusing or misusing sleeping pills means you take them in a way that is not prescribed or that does not follow the instructions for use. Examples of misuse include taking more than prescribed, running out of medicine early, taking someone else’s pills, crushing and snorting them, or buying them illegally.

Addiction to sleeping pills refers to having a lack of control over your use of the medicine. Some signs of a sleeping pill addiction include:

• Developing a tolerance
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit
• Experiencing cravings or urges
• Spending a lot of time seeking, using, or recovering from the effects
• Continuing to use sleeping pills even though it puts you in danger
• Continuing to use sleeping pills even though doing so causes problems socially and in personal relationships
• Continuing to use sleeping pills, knowing it will cause or worsen a physical or psychological problem
• Avoiding activities with others to spend more time using sleeping pills
• Taking more pills than intended and not being able to stop once you start
• Being unable to fulfill duties at work, home, school, or socially due to use
• Having a desire to quit or cut back but being unable to

Depending on how many of the above criteria you meet, your addiction to sleeping pills may be mild, moderate, or severe. Even if you have a mild addiction, it is crucial to seek help as soon as possible since addictions can quickly become severe.

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Abusing Sleeping Pills To Get High

When sleep medicines are used in a way not prescribed by a doctor, it is considered abuse. At higher doses, sleeping pills produce the same drowsy, feel-good effect as their highly addictive counterparts, benzodiazepines. Sleeping pills can also produce hallucinatory effects when an individual takes the drug but fights the urge to sleep. Other effects of sleeping pills include:

• Reduced anxiety
• Dreamless sleep
• Lack of coordination
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness

Many people don’t heed the warning labels on their pill bottles that advise against mixing pills with alcohol. Taking sleeping pills like Ambien with alcohol can be a deadly combination. The sedative effects of sleeping pills are amplified by alcohol, increasing the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Yet those who have a severe addiction (and a concurrent tolerance) may use alcohol to bump up the potency of their sleeping pills. Other drugs often taken with sleeping pills include:

• Painkillers
• Benzodiazepines
• Antidepressants
• Cannabis

Mixing drugs and alcohol with sleeping pills is hazardous and can lead to overdose, coma, or death. Drug interactions, even with medicines that are not mind-altering, should be considered to avoid accidental consequences.

Addiction Vs. Dependence On Sleeping Pills

Anytime you take medication, there are risks. If you take sleeping pills consistently for a long time, you will likely develop a tolerance, which can be a sign of dependence, which can lead to addiction.

Tolerance is when you need more of the sleeping medicine to fall asleep and stay asleep than you did when you first started taking it. The more medicine you take, the more your brain becomes convinced it must have the medicine to fall asleep.

According to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare, dependency on sleeping pills can develop in as little as a few weeks. When you go without sleeping medications, your mind may react by having uncomfortable physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms, signs that you may be dependent. Psychological signs of dependence include:

• Cravings and urges
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping

Physical signs of dependence are how the body reacts to not having the medicine. Signs may include:

• Restlessness
• Shivering
• Dizziness
• Faintness

If you become dependent on sleeping medicine, it can lead to a sleeping pill addiction. Warning labels on sleep medications warn against the sudden stopping of use. Instead, it is recommended you work with your doctor to wean off the medication over several months to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

How To Stop Taking Sleeping Pills

Many people who want to stop taking sleeping pills are not addicted or abusing the drugs and, therefore, may not need inpatient or intensive care. They can benefit from seeing a doctor or therapist on an outpatient basis until they wean off the medication and learn coping skills to avoid starting them again if they have a sleepless night.

For example, someone who needs Ambien or Lunesta to fall asleep every night and wants to stop likely does not need a comprehensive treatment plan; they should talk with their doctor. Those with mild withdrawal symptoms, a positive support system, and a healthy home environment may benefit most from the following:

• Physician-assisted drug tapering
• Outpatient counseling
• Outpatient medication-assistance therapy
• Intensive outpatient program
• Partial-hospitalization program

Someone who is physically dependent on benzodiazepines, however, will need medically supervised detox because some benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Also, someone who is abusing other drugs or alcohol alongside sleeping pills may benefit from attending a treatment facility.

Any person with severe withdrawal symptoms and who is abusing sleeping pills will also likely need to enter a detoxification or rehabilitation program. They can receive inpatient care, including medical supervision around the clock and medication management to ease withdrawal symptoms. Programs may include:

• Inpatient detoxification in a hospital setting
• Inpatient rehab in a hospital setting
• Inpatient residential rehab in a home setting

Many people with severe addiction to sleeping pills enter an inpatient detox program and then transition into an inpatient rehab until they are equipped with the skills for recovery. Overcoming an addiction to sleeping pills takes time, but with the right help, life without substances becomes a reality.

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What Happens In Treatment For Sleeping Pill Addiction?

If you are physically dependent on sleeping pills, it is unlikely you need intensive treatments. You may only need to learn new ways to fall asleep, which can happen with a doctor’s assistance on an outpatient basis. You may only need help weaning off sleeping pills and education on how to cope with the temporary withdrawal symptoms. Doctors can teach you natural ways to help you get quality sleep, including improving sleep hygiene. You can also learn holistic activities to help you fall asleep, like meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques.

Suppose you are abusing sleeping pills or can’t stop using them despite adverse consequences. In that case, you may need to enter an intensive outpatient or inpatient program where you will learn about the disease of addiction, sleeping pill abuse, and how to stop. You will gain recovery skills to help you avoid relapsing on sleeping pills.

You are expected to attend individual and group therapies, support groups, and alternative or holistic activities to support your recovery. The following are examples of various treatments and therapies in which you can participate:

Each treatment program offers a range of therapeutic and recreational options tailored to your specific needs.

Find Help For Sleeping Pill Addiction

If you suspect you’re struggling with a sleeping pill addiction or are abusing the medications, you should contact your primary healthcare provider or a licensed mental health professional who can provide a comprehensive assessment. Online therapy can often help those with a sleeping pill addiction uncover underlying causes for their sleep disruptions and teach effective coping mechanisms.

For a more severe addiction or when polysubstance use is present, inpatient rehab can be beneficial. To learn more about inpatient treatment, you can also contact a treatment provider who can answer your rehab-related questions and explore your treatment options with you.