Addiction is difficult to spot, especially when the abused substance is one that you can get at a doctor’s office and over the counter. Sleep aids are supposed to help us get through the night peacefully and well-rested. However, if you regularly rely on meds to get a good night’s rest, it may be time to consider whether you have an addiction. At Nexstep Medical Detox near Salt Lake City, UT, we have experience helping people recover from benzos, Z-drugs, and other sleeping pills.
Commonly Misused Sleep Meds
The most common prescription medications people misuse for sleep are benzos, barbiturates, and other benzodiazepine-like drugs (commonly known as Z-drugs). Z-drugs include zopiclone (Zimovane), zolpidem (Ambien), and eszopiclone (Lunesta). Unfortunately, it is also possible to become addicted to OTC sleeping pills and antihistamines like Benadryl.
5 Signs Of A Sleeping Pill Addiction
- You use sleeping pills every night or most nights.
- You take higher doses than recommended.
- No matter how hard you try, you can’t fall asleep without them.
- The pills make you groggy in the morning and struggle to concentrate throughout the day.
- You experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking sleeping pills.
You Use Sleeping Pills Almost Every Night
One of the first signs that you might develop a dependency is that you take them constantly. If you find that you need to take a pill every night to fall asleep even though your doctor did not instruct you. It may be time to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to ask about the possibility of addiction.
You Take Higher-Than-Recommended Doses
If you do take sleep meds, it’s crucial that you only take them according to your doctor’s instructions to avoid overdosing. As tempting as increasing your dose during a restless night, it’s best to avoid doing so because there could be unintended severe health consequences. Moreover, this is a sign your body may be building up a tolerance to the drug.
You Can’t Fall Asleep Without Pills
If you find that you cannot sleep without taking a pill, this is a sign that you have become dependent on the drug. You may feel like you cannot function correctly during the day if you do not take a sleeping pill at night.
You Feel Groggy & Unable To Concentrate
Overusing sleep meds can make you chronically groggy, dizzy, lightheaded, or otherwise disoriented. They can also make it challenging to concentrate throughout the day. If you’re experiencing these side effects from prescription or OTC sleeping pills, it’s essential to seek medical advice to find out if you need to cut back the dosage or do a medical detox.
You Get Withdrawal Symptoms
If you find that you experience anxiety, insomnia, rebound grogginess, or other withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking sleeping pills, this is a sign of addiction. Your body has become used to the presence of the drug and experiences these symptoms when it is not present. Therefore, it’s essential to contact your doctor and find out if it’s time to seek a medically-assisted detox program.
The Dangers Of Sleeping Pill Overuse
Taking too many sleeping pills—or even a single pill combined with alcohol, opioids, or benzos—can have dangerous effects. Some of these symptoms may be life-threatening, so if you or a loved one experience them when using nighttime aids, you should contact medical professionals or call 911.
- Slurred Speech
- Slowed Or Shallow Breathing
- Low Heart Rate
- Inability To Speak Or Think Properly
- Abnormally Cold Skin
- Bluish Fingers, Lips, Or Skin
Get Compassionate Care At A Sleeping Pill Detox Center In Utah
Please don’t wait until it becomes an emergency to get help for your sleeping pill dependency. Nexstep Medical Detox offers 24/7 medical supervision for a barbiturate, Z-drug, and benzo detox. Contact us today to learn more about our program.
