Sleeping Pills Addiction: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Problems with sleep are common. Insomnia, the condition of struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, affects up to 33% of adults and 20%-40% of children and teenagers at least intermittently during their life. The importance of a good night’s sleep to physical and mental health is well documented; therefore, it is no surprise that those with sleep problems often seek medical assistance.

Medication to assist with falling or staying asleep can be highly effective, and many people use it occasionally without repercussions. Unfortunately, because they’re prescribed by a medical professional, users often underestimate the risks associated with sleeping pills. Even at the prescribed level, prolonged use of sleep aid medication can lead to addiction.

Addiction treatment for sleeping pills is available, and the earlier you begin the process, the quicker and more effective it will be. We can help you to understand your addiction and find the right treatment program to ensure that you no longer need sleeping pills as part of your everyday life.

Types of Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills are categorized as Sedative-Hypnotics, otherwise known as tranquilizers or depressants. These medications have a calming effect on the body and are usually prescribed to treat sleep problems, or, in some cases, anxiety or seizures. Examples of Sedative-Hypnotics are Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, and Z Drugs:

• Barbiturates: Extensively used in the 1960s and 1970s, barbiturates were used to treat a variety of conditions, including seizures and insomnia. However, they are now less commonly prescribed due to their unpleasant side effects and highly addictive properties.
• Benzodiazepines: Commonly known as “benzos,” this medication was developed to replace barbiturates as it works more quickly with a lesser risk of side effects. Although deemed safer than barbiturates, benzodiazepines share many of the same unpleasant side effects and can become addictive. Forms of benzos include lorazepam and midazolam and well-known branded versions such as:
• Xanax (alprazolam)
• Valium (diazepam)
• Restoril (temazepam).
• Z Drugs: These are non-benzodiazepines and have become increasingly popular since the 1980s. Originally marketed as more effective and less addictive, Z Drugs have now been shown to be only marginally more effective and marginally safer than Benzodiazepines. They include well-known brand names such as:
• Lunesta (eszopiclone)
• Ambien (zolpidem)
• Sonata (zaleplon).

How Many People Use Sleeping Pills?

Millions of people around the world use sleeping pills. In the US, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2010, found that about 4% of adults over 20 used prescription sleep aids in the past month. Sleeping pills were used by one in eight adults with trouble sleeping. One in six adults with a diagnosed sleep disorder such as insomnia, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy resorted to sleeping medication to treat their condition.

The prescription rates demonstrate the prevalence of sleep aids. Benzodiazepines are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US. In 2017, over 120 million prescriptions for Benzodiazepines were dispensed.

What Do Sleeping Medications Do?

Sleeping pills calm the mind and body, causing drowsiness and promoting sleep. They fall within a category of drugs called CNS (central nervous system) depressants. They can be used to treat patients who suffer with chronic insomnia. Some medications assist those with sleep onset insomnia, whereby the patient struggles to fall asleep, whereas others help with sleep maintenance insomnia, where patients frequently wake up throughout the night. Some medications assist with both aspects.

The Side Effects of Sleeping Pills

As with all substance use, sleeping pills have side effects even at the prescribed level. Different people experience different side effects with varying levels of severity. Side effects can be short-term or long-term, and some of the most common are:

• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Memory loss
• Lack of attention span
• Constipation
• Lack of balance
• Mood swings
• Stomach pain

Some sleeping pills have more severe side effects than others. For example, one study found that although next-day impairment in memory did not occur with temazepam, impairment of delayed recall was significantly and several times greater in those who had taken triazolam. The study also found that the next day amnesia or memory impairment increased with continued or intermittent use of the drug.

As side effects generally worsen with continued or prolonged use, medical professionals must prescribe the most effective medication with the least risk of severe side effects possible to their patients. In turn, patients must take their medication in the way that it was prescribed.

Why Do People Abuse Sleeping Pills?

Regardless of the severity of someone’s sleep problem, sleeping pills are only intended to be used moderately and temporarily. Misusing sleep aids can enhance side effects and withdrawal symptoms and lead to addiction. Unfortunately, many people still abuse their medication. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1.4 million adults misused prescription sedatives in 2015. There are many reasons why people abuse sleeping pills and risk becoming addicted. Of the people surveyed, the reasons included:

• To enhance the effect of the medication (73.2%): Many people take their prescribed sleeping pill in a larger dose or more frequently than the doctor prescribes to get to sleep faster or stay asleep longer. They may also have developed a tolerance which means that their medication is not having the same impact as quickly as before, so they take more to replicate the initial effect.
• To relax or relieve tension (12%): Sleeping pills relax the body and calm the mind; therefore, some people take them to help ease tension or reduce anxiety even when they do not wish to fall asleep.
• Other reasons: A variety of other reasons were given, with the most significant being to get high (5.1%), to help with feelings or emotions (3.9%), to experiment or to see what the drug was like (3%), and to increase or decrease the effects of other drugs (1.3%).

The Risks of Abusing Sleep Aids

As well as the worsening of usually temporary side effects, prolonged or excessive use of sleeping pills can have long-term and severe health implications. The risks associated with sleeping pill abuse include:

• Dangers of mixing medication: Taking sleeping pills in combination with other substances (poly-substance use) can be hazardous. The National Institute of Drug Abuse warns that drugs such as opioids, alcohol, antihistamines, CNS depressants, or general anesthetics should not be taken together. These medications slow down breathing and increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.
• Chance of overdose: When someone takes too high a dose of their sleeping pill medication, their breathing slows and sometimes stops. This can cause hypoxia, a decreased oxygen level in the brain that can lead to mental health issues, including brain damage, coma, or death. Overdose risk increases when other substances are taken at the same time. Sleeping pills often play a role in drug overdose deaths, with one national study finding that opioids plus benzodiazepines were the most common cause of poly-substance overdose deaths from 1999-2009.
• Risk of injury: As prescription sleeping pills induce drowsiness, users should take extra caution with their activities. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) warns that rare but serious injuries have happened with certain common prescription insomnia medicines because of sleep behaviors, including sleepwalking, sleep driving, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake.

How To Know if You or a Loved One Has a Sleeping Pill Addiction

As the side effects of sleeping pills are not necessarily as severe or outwardly noticeable as with other drug use, it can be challenging to know whether someone has an addiction to them. Also, the user may not realize they have become dependent on them, until they try to stop using them. Some questions to help you to determine whether you or a loved one has a psychological or physical dependence on sleeping medication are:

• Increasing use: Have you been increasing the dose or frequency with which you take sleeping pills?
• Cravings: Are you experiencing an intense desire to take sleeping pills?
• Developing a tolerance: Do you find that you need to take more sleeping pills than you did previously to have the same effect?
• Withdrawal symptoms: Have you been experiencing worsening side effects and withdrawal symptoms? Do you find that the only way to alleviate these symptoms is to take more sleeping pills?
• Multiple doctors: Have you intentionally seen more than one doctor to obtain more sleeping medication?
• Use at other times: Have you taken sleeping pills at times or for any purposes other than to induce sleep?
• Unable to stop: Have you tried to stop using sleeping pills but been unable to? Do you feel like you cannot have a good night’s sleep without them?

How Do I Overcome an Addiction To Sleeping Aids?

If you or a loved one is addicted to sleeping pills, it is crucial to seek professional advice rather than go “cold turkey” or try to stop by yourself. By abruptly stopping the drug use, a person may experience withdrawal symptoms that are difficult to manage and potentially life-threatening, including:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure leading to cardiovascular risks
• Shaking and seizures
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Severe cravings

In addition to these symptoms, some withdrawal effects are specifically related to sleeping pills. These include:

• Rebound insomnia: Some people find that their quality of sleep is lower after stopping taking prescription sleeping pills than it was before they received medication. Rebound insomnia can cause a person to relapse as they resort to taking sleeping pills to overcome the problem. The risk of rebound insomnia differs between the types and strengths of sleeping pills. One study found a greater risk of rebound insomnia with the short half-life benzodiazepines than with the long half-life. Half-life refers to how quickly a drug is processed and leaves the body. Shorter half-life versions tend to have a higher chance of withdrawal symptoms as the body has had less opportunity to adapt to them.
• Parasomnia: Parasomnia can be caused by abruptly stopping sleeping pills and causes sufferers to sleepwalk or experience sleep terrors or paralysis. Sufferers are unaware of their actions and cannot remember them afterward. It is essential to take safety precautions for parasomniacs to avoid injury as they are prone to hurting themselves. This includes locking doors and removing dangerous household items.

Treatment Options for Sleeping Pill Addiction

Many treatment centers and healthcare providers assist people in overcoming sleep aid addiction. The right program is dependent on a person’s individual circumstances, and the treatment plan can include one or a combination of the following:

• Medical detox: Detoxification is usually the first step in overcoming drug addiction. By detoxing safely under the care of medical professionals, you can be assured that your sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms will be monitored and managed to ensure that the process is as comfortable and painless as possible.
• Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation: Once detoxification is complete, you will begin a program of rehabilitation that may be residential for a period of time or may require you to attend a treatment center several times a week. The addiction treatments will include individual and group counseling, support groups, and holistic therapies. These therapies will address a person’s overall well-being and behavioral health patterns, providing them with ways to cope with triggering situations without resorting to substance abuse.
• Aftercare: Regardless of the treatment program undertaken, it is essential to have a plan for effective aftercare. By ensuring that patients remain motivated and accountable, treatment providers can help them to stay sober once they have returned to everyday life.

How Do I Find Addiction Treatment for Sleeping Pills?

Resources are widely available to help you find treatment for yourself or a loved one; here are a few suggestions to start:

• Your doctor: As a prescription drug, your first action in seeking treatment for sleeping pill addiction is to speak to your doctor about your concerns. They will be able to advise you on the best course of action for you personally and help you find addiction treatment in your local area.
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): This free and confidential service can help you find treatment online or by calling the helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• Rehab.com – As a trusted resource for addiction treatment help and advice, Rehab.com can help you to understand the treatment options available and connect you with rehab centers in your local area.
• Support groups – Organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous operate across the US offering peer support and advice for people dealing with all forms of substance use disorder.

Sleeping pill addiction often has less prominent side effects than other substance addictions, but it is still potentially dangerous and can negatively impact someone’s life. Treatment programs that treat addiction to sleep aids are available and effective. Contact a helpline, such as the Rehab.com addiction helpline, today for the trusted and confidential advice that you need to start your journey to a life free from sleeping pill addiction.