Ambien Symptoms And Warning Signs

Signs Of Ambien Addiction

Ambien (zolpidem) is a Z-sedative hypnotic prescription sleeping medication intended for short-term use to treat insomnia.

If someone begins using Ambien for more than a few nights, they may notice they require a larger dose than before to fall asleep. This is known as tolerance, a common sign of addiction, and occurs when the body becomes so used to the drug that it requires a higher dosage to produce the same desired effects.

Signs of Ambien addiction include dependence and tolerance, as well as other signs such as:

• Being unable to sleep without taking Ambien
• Needing larger doses of Ambien to fall asleep
• Experiencing the urge to use sleeping pills during the day
• Seeming confused or frequently detached
• Isolating oneself from friends and family
• Engaging in hazardous behavior
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Craving sleeping pills
• Experiencing mood swings
• Seeing more than one doctor for prescriptions
• Spending a lot of time and/or money trying to acquire Ambien
• Trying and failing to cut down on Ambien use
• Continuing to use Ambien despite dangerous actions like sleep-driving
• Experiencing issues at work, school, or home due to Ambien use (such as absences, poor performance, neglecting responsibilities)

How Does Ambien Addiction Develop?

Ambien acts on GABA receptors in the brain to calm the body and mind, inducing relaxation and drowsiness. It reduces the time to fall asleep and increases sleep duration throughout the night. However, Ambien is highly addictive and should only be used for very short-term use.

Ambien is known to produce a “hangover” effect upon waking up in the morning, leaving the person feeling groggy throughout the day, which can impair concentration and productivity. The next night, they will most likely take another Ambien to help them fall asleep, and this cycle of waking up groggy and needing a sleeping pill repeats itself.

If the person continues to take Ambien and tries to quit or reduce the dosage, they may experience withdrawal effects such as:

• Rebound insomnia
• Anxiety
• Irritability

Withdrawal occurs when the body and brain adapt to the presence of a drug and begin to rely on it to function normally. This physical dependence is a common feature of addiction. Many people taking Ambien are unaware of how quickly dependence can develop, even when the medication is taken exactly as prescribed.

Addiction involves a compulsive urge to use a substance despite the negative consequences it causes in various areas of a person’s life.

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Signs Of Ambien Abuse

Some of the signs of Ambien abuse include:

• Uninhibited sociability and talkativeness
• Frequent blackouts
• Strange behavior with no memory
• Sleepwalking or sleep activities
• Hypersexual behavior during sleep
• Impaired coordination and balance
• Taking Ambien to get high
• Hiding Ambien prescription bottles
• Memory loss the next day
• Trouble concentrating
• Dreamless sleep

Any drug, whether it is prescription, over-the-counter, or illicit, has the potential to be misused and abused. If the substance is taken differently than it should be, such as taking a higher dosage or more frequent dosage, or taking someone else’s prescription, then this is considered abuse.

Other examples of abuse include using Ambien with other substances such as alcohol or marijuana, crushing and snorting Ambien, purchasing Ambien on the street, or taking Ambien longer than prescribed. A person may also exhibit unusual behavior without recalling their actions.

Can You Get High On Ambien?

Getting high on Ambien is sometimes referred to as a “Z trip” because Ambien is a Z-sedative hypnotic that can cause a state of euphoria and relaxation.

It is commonly misused for these desired effects, and people who misuse Ambien to get high may attempt to increase the dosage or mix it with other drugs, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, to feel the euphoric effects.

How To Know If You Have A Tolerance To Ambien

If you continue to use Ambien, you most likely will develop a tolerance, where the body has adapted to the presence of the drug, and the user needs to take a larger dose to feel the same effects.

As someone’s tolerance increases, they may start taking more than one pill to fall asleep. They may also exhibit unusual behavior without recalling their actions. If someone develops a tolerance to Ambien, the most common and obvious sign is that they are taking a higher dosage than before. This can look like:

• Going through their prescription faster or running out of their prescription
• Doctor shopping so they can get more Ambien
• Purchasing Ambien on the streets

What Are The Dangers Of Ambien Abuse?

Many people who use Ambien have reported strange and disturbing side effects from the drug. Some of these effects involve users going from a sleeping state to engaging in complicated activities without any recollection of their actions. These are known as parasomnias. Parasomnias associated with Ambien use include:

• Sleepwalking
• Making and eating food
• Getting dressed
• Having sex
• Driving
• Talking on the phone

I’d wake up to find in my bed cheese and crackers and a sharp knife on a plate (hey, at least I was classy). One morning I wandered into the kitchen to make coffee and discovered a pot of soup over an open flame on the stove. I had no idea how it got there.

Ambien works on the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA to induce drowsiness to the point that some people feel intense sedative effects. People who take Ambien and force themselves to stay awake are much more likely to perform unconscious actions, such as parasomnias, and not remember them.

Other side effects of Ambien abuse might include:

In January of 2013, the Food and Drug Administration ordered a reduction in the recommended dosage of Ambien for women, down from 10 mg to 5 mg, or 12.5 mg to 6.25 mg in extended-release formulas, due to safety concerns about next-morning impairment, including impaired driving. This is because women metabolize Ambien more slowly than men, which allows it to stay in their systems longer.

Another risk of Ambien abuse is overdose. While Ambien alone can rarely cause an overdose, mixing the substance with other central nervous system depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids significantly increases the risk of overdose, respiratory failure, and death.

What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Abusing Ambien?

Ambien is not supposed to be used on a long-term basis because of its addiction potential and side effects. Ambien works on the GABA receptors in the brain to alter levels of consciousness and sleep-wake cycles, and when used over time, it can have long-term effects that include the following:

• Chronic fatigue
• Frequent headaches
• Exacerbations of underlying gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
• Poor motor coordination

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Mixing Ambien With Alcohol Or Other Drugs

Because Ambien works as a central nervous system depressant, it is often mixed with other central nervous system depressants to amplify the desired euphoric and sedative effects.

Opioids

Opioids are central nervous system depressants, and when taken with Ambien, they can be a risky combination because the risk of overdose and respiratory depression is increased. When Ambien and opioids are taken together, there is an increase in sedation, confusion, and loss of coordination, which can increase fall risk and injury.

Alcohol

Alcohol works on the same GABA receptors in the brain as Ambien, so when people drink alcohol while taking Ambien, they can experience a heightened level of dizziness, sleepiness, and lowered inhibitions, which can be even more dangerous if you are driving or operating heavy machinery.

It is strongly advised to avoid alcohol while taking Ambien. If you take Ambien on an as-needed basis, it is essential to talk to your doctor about consuming alcohol on the days you do not take Ambien because it can take over 12 hours for Ambien to clear the body.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines work on the GABA receptor and can be dangerous when combined with Ambien because they multiply the risk of drowsiness, confusion, poor coordination, and fatal overdose. Like Ambien, benzos are extremely addictive, and when misused continuously, a person can go into life-threatening withdrawal seizures when benzos are suddenly stopped or reduced.

Over-the-counter Sleep Medicines

Diphenhydramine and other over-the-counter antihistamines, sold under brand names like Benadryl, ZzzQuil, and Unisom Sleep tablets, are often used as sleep aids. Combining these medications with Ambien can increase a person’s risk for excessive drowsiness, which can lead to impaired coordination, causing falls, accidents, and other injuries. As a general rule, it is not advisable to combine sleep medications.

Why Do People Abuse Ambien?

People abuse Ambien for many reasons. They may want the sedative, relaxing effects, and the potential for a euphoric high, or they may use Ambien as a way to “check out” and sleep the entire day away as a way to self-medicate any stress they are experiencing. Others may also abuse Ambien to self-medicate their depression or anxiety symptoms.

How Is Ambien Addiction Treated?

Ambien withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, and quitting Ambien “cold turkey” increases the possibility of experiencing stronger withdrawal symptoms.

The first step in treating an Ambien addiction is guiding the user through detox and the withdrawal period. Detox generally involves gradually reducing the user’s Ambien dose. Eventually, Ambien users can stop taking the drug without uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Detox is coupled with therapy and support groups to help treat the psychological aspect of the addiction.

Get Help For An Ambien Addiction

If you need help finding Ambien addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, help is available. Contact a treatment provider or visit our rehab directory to explore your available treatment options today.