Sleeping Pill Withdrawal And Detox

What Is Sleeping Pill Withdrawal?

People who take sleeping pills for a long period of time are at a very high risk of withdrawal if they abruptly stop. Typically, sleeping pills, often referred to as Z pills, are only prescribed for a very short time (a few days at most) for people who are struggling with insomnia. Unfortunately, they have a high potential for misuse and abuse, and people can quickly become dependent on them.

Dependence occurs when the body and mind become so accustomed to the effects of sleeping pills that when someone tries to cut down or quit taking them, they will experience withdrawal. Dependency on sleeping pills can occur in as little as two to four weeks.

Because sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and the rebound insomnia can be worse than before starting the sleeping pills, many people may continue to take sleeping pills to prevent these withdrawal side effects. Long-term use of sleeping pills can lead to sleeping pill addiction.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sleeping Pill Withdrawal?

Although sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, they are not life-threatening. However, sleeping pill withdrawal can become more serious and life-threatening if a person is also using other substances such as alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines.

Common sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms include:

What Is Rebound Insomnia?

Many people who have been taking sleeping pills for an extended period experience rebound insomnia when they abruptly stop taking them.

Rebound insomnia is often much worse than the insomnia the individual experienced prior to taking sleeping pills and can cause almost a complete loss of sleep for several days.

Sleeping pills boost GABA’s effects in the brain, enhancing sedation and relaxation. Over time, the brain and body become accustomed to these enhanced effects. When sleeping pills are abruptly stopped, GABA activity sharply decreases, leading the brain into disarray. Depending on the specific sleeping pill, rebound insomnia can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Rebound insomnia is like having a double dose of insomnia. The body — which couldn’t sleep in the first place — adapts to needing a sleeping pill to sleep; and when it is then taken away, the insomnia is compounded.

The duration of rebound insomnia depends on the medication’s half-life, as well as the individual’s frequency and dosage. For example, Lunesta has a half-life of 6 hours, and Ambien or Ambien CR has a half-life of 2.5-3.1 hours.

Sleeping medications with shorter half-lives will leave the body faster, meaning that the rebound insomnia will have a more rapid, intense onset. Still, it will also resolve faster, often fading within a few days to a week after stopping the medication. Sleeping medications with longer half-lives may not have as intense rebound effects. Still, it may leave the body feeling extremely groggy in the morning, known as “sleeping pill hangover effects,” and these symptoms will linger for a longer duration because it takes longer for the medication to leave the body.

Signs Of Dependency On Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pill dependency means that the body “depends” on sleeping pills to function normally. The classic sign of sleeping pill dependency is the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when the person abruptly stops taking sleeping pills. However, other symptoms of sleeping pill dependency include:

• “Doctor shopping” or trying to get multiple sleeping pill prescriptions from different doctors
• Difficulty or the inability to sleep without sleeping medication
• Problems focusing or excelling at work or school

Sleeping Pill Withdrawal Timeline

The sleeping pill withdrawal timeline is different for each individual and can depend on the person’s metabolism, the type of prescription sleeping pill, the dosage, frequency, and duration of use. Most people who have a dependency on prescription sleeping pills will experience symptoms of withdrawal shortly after discontinuing use. If the person stops taking the medication cold turkey, symptoms often appear as soon as 12 hours after the last dose.

Days 1-3	Sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms usually begin during the first 24 to 72 hours after quitting sleeping pills. Feelings of confusion, mood changes, and memory loss are often the first to appear. People may also feel anxious or fearful. People who have used sleeping pills for a long time may experience nausea and vomiting.
Days 4-10	Over the next week or so, users generally have difficulty sleeping. Anxiety continues, along with drug cravings. Physical symptoms, like sweating, increased heart rate, and tremors, peak during this time.
Days 11-17	The physical symptoms of withdrawal begin to dissipate at this stage. Psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, may continue, and panic attacks can manifest. In some users, depression begins to set in.
Days 18+	Over the next few weeks, any remaining physical symptoms will fade. Depression and drug cravings can last for several weeks to several months, especially for those who used the drug heavily. PAWS may occur at this time, which may last as long as 18 months.

Detoxing From Sleeping Pills

Rehab for sleeping pill detox is not usually necessary, but a slow tapering from sleeping pills under medical supervision is highly encouraged to minimize or even eliminate any withdrawal effects associated with sleeping pill dependency.

Gradual dose reduction or “tapering” is slowly reducing the dosage of sleeping pills over time until there is no need for sleeping pills. This allows the brain and body to adapt to reduced dosage, so the person does not go into withdrawal.

Should I Go To A Treatment Center To Detox From Sleeping Pills?

Tapering from sleeping pills is generally done under medical supervision with a plan and prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. Although attending a rehab center to detox from sleeping pills is generally not necessary, if the person is using other substances such as alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, then consulting an addiction professional in a detox center is advised.

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If you are using sleeping pills to help treat your insomnia and you want to quit using them, it is important to speak to your healthcare professional, as quitting “cold turkey” is not advised. Your physician can help guide you with a tapering plan to slowly wean yourself off sleeping pills to avoid any unpleasant withdrawal side effects and rebound insomnia.

You may also benefit from seeking professional help to treat your insomnia and uncover underlying stressors or triggers that may be related to your insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a short-term therapy technique that is helpful in treating insomnia.

If you are struggling with a co-occurring mental health disorder, such as depression, or are abusing other substances, then it may be necessary to consult with an addiction or mental health treatment provider. These programs help patients overcome their addiction by creating a personalized treatment plan based on their drug use, personal history, medical history, and individual risk factors.

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or a mental health disorder related to their sleeping pill misuse, there is help available. Visit our rehab directory or contact a treatment provider to learn more about your addiction treatment center options.