Sleeping Pill Addiction - Treatment, Symptoms and Causes

A tiring day should be rewarded with a complete, satisfying, uninterrupted rest of the night. While there are people who are gifted with the talent of falling asleep as soon as their head touches the pillow, the others take it a little longer to enter the dream-empire. The temptation to reach for that pill is a bit too strong when you know you that the next day will be more tiring than the previous and you are suffering from insomnia. These tablets are not for a daily use. Despite the fact that the pills sold over the counter have low dependence percentage, the tolerance is still an issue to be concerned about. To add to it, instead of curing it there are chances that the pills are actually making it worse to fight insomnia.

Most of the pills contain Antihistamines (the compound that obstructs the effects of histamine) as their main element. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine which causes of daytime drowsiness, blurred vision and urinary retention.

he abuse of a substance begins when the proportion or the frequency of the intake increases. It is important to weigh the good against the bad and figure out the difference between a necessity and habit.

The causes of addiction come in three stages. Each stage rooting the individual further to the medicine.

1. Misinterpretation of Insomnia is the primary reason to start the medication in the first place. Its advisable to explore other possibilities as high caffeine consumption or more time in front of the screen, before beginning the pills. Paying a visit to a doctor before starting the dose (yes, even over the counter drug) is advised.
2. Any sort of relieving substance causes the body to get used to or to depend on it. They develop a psychological/physical need of the substance. That is, the dependence of the body on the drug to gain sleep on regular basis.
3. The abuse of the drug starts as an innocent increase in the quantity of the medication. once the body builds up a tolerance against the drug, the usual amount of drug won't have the effect as it did once.

When to name it as an addiction?

• Cravings: when you find yourself unable to stop from reaching out to the bottle even when you are sufficiently drowsy, reasoning it to be for 'better” sleep.
• Doctor shopping: when physicians refuse to write a refill prescription, the individual visits another one to obtain it. There is no functioning prescription tracking system to stop the addicts.
• The acute signs of sleeping pills abuse are as follows
• All day dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Lightheadedness
• Memory loss
• The symptoms intensify with prolonged use.
• To add to it, accumulation of the substance in the body may cause - blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.

The treatment here refers to getting back to healthy sleep habits, more energy and concentration improvement.

• Treating insomnia along with the individual’s addiction is important to prevent him from going back to the same old ways.
• Sleeping pill rehabilitation centre: they provide various programs.
• Some requiring the patient to take a complete break from the routine - inpatient rehab. Hence prohibiting internet access, etc. This step is to cure long addiction.
• Other programs may allow you to attend to your daily business in the daytime while dedicating your spare time to recovery exercises.
Therapies: individual therapy, group therapy, trauma therapy are also a way to go.

• Go to the doctor: instead of starting the use yourself it is better to get professional help in the first stage itself. There may be an underlying cause of your insomnia which the doctors can help you decipher.
• Know your body: Diphenhydramine and doxylamine are the main elements of any sleeping pills.
• Sleeping aids prove a risk to pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding.
• Know your dose: take an only prescribed amount of dose at a time. This will limit not only your dependence but also help you in recognize your cravings if you start having any.
• Do not mix the pills with alcoholic drinks.

The withdrawal symptoms usually start within 24-72 hrs after the consumption is stopped. Observed effects are both physical as well as psychological.

• Body fits, Seizures, Insomnia, Delirium, Anxiety, Drug desires, Irritability, Depression, Confusion, Hallucinations, Sweating, Increased heart rate, Hand tremors
• Rebound insomnia: most of the patients experience insomnia while they are quitting the medicine. This rebound insomnia refrains the patients from full recovery.
• Withdrawal duration: it can extend over the period day 1 to day 20. Day 4 to day 11 are considered as a crucial period. The symptoms such as cravings, sweating, increased heart rate, tremors increase.