According to statistics laid out by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, up to 30% of the adult American population have trouble sleeping and 10% of these have clinically validated insomnia that is severe and interferes with their daily lives. Apart from the plethora of unpleasant after-effects that it can cause, being sleepless alone can prove to be a cause of major discomfort and even angst!
So what could be the Solution?
The most common cure for sleeplessness is sleep medications which are also known as hypnotic drugs or sedatives. Zolpidem is one such drug sold by the trade name, Ambien. Ambien is typically prescribed for a period of six weeks. It helps in improving the quality of sleep, in staying asleep for a longer duration, and also helps in achieving a more restful sleeping experience. What then, leads to Ambien addiction?
What leads to Ambien Abuse?
Patients who tend to get habituated with the drug often extend the period of consumption on their own. Once this happens, tolerance levels go up. This means that higher doses would now be needed for achieving the desired results as before. The patient now finds himself in a vicious circle where he needs more and more of Ambien to cope with problems. Even if he wishes to stop, he is likely to face a severe backlash of withdrawal symptoms as soon as the dose is withdrawn!
Common withdrawal symptoms would be heightened insomnia, fatigue, nausea and sometimes even vomiting, emotional outbursts, sweating, cramps in the stomach, and even light-headedness. Panic attacks, convulsions, and tremors as well as emotional outbursts are also entirely possible. The best way to deal with these could be to reach out to a Massachusetts drug rehab center that provides holistic care and assistance.
How can You Break Free in a More Sustained Way?
Well, abrupt stoppage of the drug may require making urgent calls to a “drug addiction hotline” owing to the aggressive withdrawal pangs. What could be the best option for abstinence, therefore? The best thing to do is to consult your doctor. Once Ambien is prescribed, you will need to wean off by tapering the doses slowly over a period of time. The catch here is to cope with reduced dosages as the drug is weaned off. Most people are not able to stick to the reduced doses and crave more. Looking for a “drug rehab near me” may help in keeping them on the road to recovery. Rehabs have motivation programs that provide much-needed encouragement.
Ambien and Complex Sleep Behaviors
Among others, complex sleep behaviors are considered to be the most worrisome effects of Ambien abuse. These behaviors are normally associated with patterns of wakefulness that may occur when someone is sleeping or is in a slumber-like state. Some of the common manifestations include sleepwalking, cooking while in a state of sleep, harming his or her own self in a state of half-sleep, even driving, eating, and writing. They may even take pills in this state.
When the patient wakes up the following morning, he or she has no memory of any of it. Ambien addiction can be dangerous. Seek help now!
