The Dangers of Sleeping Pills and How Easy It Is to Become Addicted

Sleeping Pill Addiction

When you find yourself struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep, there is a natural tendency to reach for the pill bottle on the bedside table or ask your doctor for a prescription. The use of prescription sleeping pills and over-the-counter sleep remedies has exploded in recent years, but the dangers of sleeping pills lurk for any user.

While taking a sleeping pill now and then may seem harmless, the chronic use of these medications can lead to some dangerous consequences, including dependency and even addiction. If you rely on these medications to fall asleep every night, it is crucial to take a step back, look at your drug usage and reach out for help if you are worried you have crossed the line into addiction.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at 877.969.1993 to learn how we can help.

Ambien and How it Works

There are many prescription sleep aids on the market, but Ambien is arguably the biggest and best known. If you have asked your doctor for help falling asleep and staying asleep, there is a good chance you were prescribed Ambien, but you may not understand the dangers it can pose, especially if you have a history of substance use disorder.

Ambien is actually one of the most abused prescription medications, and its misuse can quickly morph into dependency and even addiction. If you have been prescribed Ambien or are already taking it, you should talk to your doctor about its safe usage, or better yet, ask about more natural and safer alternatives.

Recognizing the Signs of Sleeping Pill Addiction

If you are currently taking prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids to help you rest, it is essential to watch out for the telltale signs of addiction. It is equally important to understand the dangers these seemingly innocuous pills can pose.

Far from being risk-free, prescription sleeping pills and even over-the-counter sleep aids can be dangerous and even addictive. Here are some of the common dangers of sleeping pills:

• Mixing sleeping pills with alcohol could be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
• Those with a history of substance abuse could be at higher risk for dependency from prescription and even over-the-counter sleep aids.
• There are better and more natural alternatives to sleeping pills, including changes in sleep hygiene, putting your devices away for the night, and keeping the room cool and comfortable.

If you think you need a prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids to get a good night’s rest, you should watch out for these potential warning signs of dependency and addiction. If you recognize any of these warning signs, you should reach out to the staff at WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab without delay.

• Taking more than prescribed – If it takes more pills than it used to for you to fall asleep, you could be becoming dependent on these potentially dangerous drugs.
• Not being able to fall asleep without chemical assistance – Over time, the chronic use of sleeping aids can interfere with your body’s natural ability to fall asleep, trapping you in a vicious cycle of pill-popping and tiredness.
• Waking up exhausted – While sleeping pills can sometimes help you fall asleep, the sleep you get is not always refreshing. If you wake up exhausted, it is time to seek help.

When to Seek Help for Sleeping Pill Addiction

If you are using a sleep medication to fall asleep, it is vital to watch out for the warning signs of addiction and even more important to know when to seek help. Dependency and addiction to sleep aids can creep up slowly over time, and by the time you recognize the issue, the problem could be pretty advanced.

If you recognize any of these warning signs, it is important to seeker help for your growing dependency as soon as possible.

• You use your chosen sleeping pill every night – The definition of dependency is relying on the drug, and you should be very concerned if you cannot fall asleep without taking medication.
• You are taking more than indicated – If you are taking more than the package indicates, you could be developing a dangerous addiction to the sleeping aids you have been taking.
• You are having a more challenging time falling asleep, even with the pills. Rebound insomnia is a real problem with the chronic use of sleeping pills, and it is a symptom you should never ignore.

Addiction Treatment for Sleeping Pills at WhiteSands

If you think you have been developing a dependency on the sleeping pills you have been taking, it is essential to reach out for help as soon as possible to learn the dangers of sleeping pills, which can be quite dangerous, especially if you have struggled with substance use disorder in the past.

At WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, we offer addiction treatment for sleeping pills, so you can get the help you need and come out stronger, healthier, and better rested on the other side. If you are ready to talk about your dependency on these seemingly innocent but hazardous sleeping pills, you can visit any of our locations or call us today.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.