Sleeplessness is a condition that significantly impacts the overall health of an individual. People who fail to get adequate sleep may experience tiredness, irritation, or anger issues. Therefore, most people who experience trouble sleeping take the support of sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are a common recommendation by doctors to promote a good night’s rest. However, these pills have a major downside to them. If an individual consumes sleeping pills regularly or in higher amounts, they become dependent on their effects, which is called sleeping pill addiction.
Sleeping Pill Addiction
Sleeping pill addiction occurs when sleeping pills form specific changes in the brain, and your body gets addicted to it. This addiction develops to such an extent that if you try to quit, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. It happens because sleeping pills consist of benzodiazepines which usually attach to the GABA receptors in the brain and induce relaxation in the users, which prompts them to sleep. And as time passes, your body acclimatizes itself to the effects, followed by increased doses of sleeping pills. Also, sleeping pill addiction is snowballing in the UK. For example, the total sales value of OTC sleeping pills reached approximately 61 million British pounds in 2021. While the effects are adverse, many rehabs offer sleeping pill addiction treatment.
This article will explain the common signs and symptoms of sleeping pill addiction, how you can overcome it and the treatment options provided by rehab for addiction recovery.
Symptoms of Sleeping Pill Addiction
Before gathering any information about the sleeping pill detox and other treatment options, it is crucial to understand the signs and symptoms of sleeping pill addiction. When you develop a dependency on sleeping pills, you may experience severe symptoms from the moment you abstain from taking them. Along with the cravings, you may feel tired, sleepy, or unstable all day around rather than just at night.
A few symptoms of sleeping pill addiction are:
- Garbled speech
- Drowsiness
- Itching
- Dizziness
- Mood swings
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Odd dreams and nightmares
- Unsteady movements
- Confusion
- Physical instability
If you or your loved one consumes sleeping pills more than prescribed, they may be at potential risk of experiencing an overdose, resulting in breathing changes, slurred speech, and changes in emotions and thinking. Hence, it is crucial to seek medical assistance if these symptoms emerge because severe cases of sleeping pill overdose can cause death, making it even more important to consider safer wellness alternatives from reputable sources like https://deltanorthtea.com/.
Dangerous Interactions with Sleeping Pills
You must be cautious while consuming sleeping pills. It is essential in cases where other substances may be introduced into the body simultaneously. For example, if substances like alcohol or painkillers are combined with sleeping pills, they can produce negative results in the body.
Alcohol
Alcohol use causes drowsiness and behavioural changes, and so do sleeping pills. If these two substances are combined together, the effects can be adverse. The sedation will become extreme, resulting in respiratory suppression or even death.
Painkillers
Painkillers like opioids are used to manage the pain in the body. But, when combined with sleeping pills, it can pose dangerous outcomes. Because both substances affect alertness, respiratory function, and cognition, an excessive amount can lead to an overdose.
Tips to Quit or Overcome Sleeping Pill Addiction
If you have recently discovered that you have a sleeping pill addiction or are at an early stage, the tips mentioned below can help you overcome using sleeping pills.
- Decrease the Dosage or Frequency of Sleeping Pills
You can begin by taking smaller doses over time to taper the effects of sleeping pills. For example, you can start by skipping the pills one night a week and then move to two nights, three nights, and so on. However, you must consult your doctor before changing your sleeping pills addiction treatment routine. They may also suggest to you the best way to quit the pills.
- Exercise Earlier
Exercising raises body temperature and endorphin levels, making it difficult for people to sleep peacefully. Typically, body temperature decreases at night and exercising just before bed can raise it, resulting in disturbed sleep. Hence, you must stop vigorous activity for at least 90 minutes before bed. It will help you fall asleep fast.
- Medications Can Also Disturb Sleep
Some medications can cause disturbed sleep. For example, if you take blood pressure medications, diuretics present in them can cause weakening and promotes urination to remove excess fluid from the body. Consult your healthcare provider or professionals at rehab for addiction recovery if you feel medications disturb your sleep.
- Refrain from Drinking and Eating
The body functions at its own pace and understanding. Eating meals or snacks late at night causes the body to think there is enough time left in the day, interfering with the body’s internal clock. Late-night munching can also cause indigestion, insomnia, and restless sleep. Hence, refrain from eating at least three hours before bedtime. It will help you sleep better.
Another thing that interferes with the sleep cycle is caffeine. Drinking coffee at night can keep you awake for a long. Drinking alcohol can also cause sleeplessness by inducing restlessness in the body. Finally, avoid drinking liquids near bedtime as it may lead to an urge to urinate, which eventually disturbs sleep. It is best to stop drinking fluids at least two hours before sleeping.
- Turn off the TV
Watching violent or disturbing scenes on TV can disrupt sleep at night or lead to bad dreams. Also, electronic devices like laptops and cell phones emit blue light, impacting the release of the melatonin hormone. Therefore, it is best to shut off the TV or other electronics for at least 30 minutes before going to bed for a peaceful sleep.
Sleeping Pill Detox
Just like any other addiction, sleeping pills can be habit-forming and challenging to quit. As a result, and for multiple reasons, be it the fear of addiction or health problems occurring because of dependency, many people have raised the question of how to overcome sleeping pill addiction. A few things that you must know about sleeping pill detox:
You Can Develop a Tolerance: Such as drugs or alcohol alters the brain chemistry and build up a tolerance; sleeping pills also put users in a vicious cycle of using them in increased amounts without the desired results.
Withdrawal Can Be Painful: Sleep medication can be really addictive, and people can experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit. These symptoms include anxiety, restlessness, and inability to sleep. In addition, being confused, depressed, or experiencing seizures are some of the adverse effects of sleep medication withdrawal.
Getting Off Sleeping Pills
We all hope for a good night’s sleep. And sleeping pills are just that extra help we need to promote peaceful sleep. But, the excessive use or abuse of sleeping pills can lead to addiction and cause withdrawal symptoms if you try to quit. Though numerous tips mentioned above may help you overcome sleeping pill addiction, if you still don’t feel satisfied, you can enrol in sleeping pill addiction treatment at a rehab for addiction recovery. While sleeping pill detox help is available to flush out the toxins, in severe cases, therapy like cognitive-behavioural therapy and medications work well. So, to get help managing your sleeping pill addiction, contact the nearest rehab today!