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Sleeping pills are sedative-like medications that are prescribed to manage sleep disorders, such as insomnia. They are also prescribed for people who suffer from anxiety, panic, and high stress, who may be struggling to unwind and rest.
Prescription sleeping pills are prescribed to induce a state of relaxation. They help those who struggle to switch off and are now experiencing adverse health issues due to a lack of mental, cognitive, and emotional rest. Whilst powerful when inducing sleep, they are also very addictive, due to the relief that they offer.
A sleeping pill addiction will look different for each person, also similar whilst considering further drug addictions. Yet common signs of addiction include reliance on sleeping pills to relax, high tolerance and the need for further consumption to feel their effects, and regular prescription requests beyond guidelines.
It is very important to identify a problem, as sleeping pills can harm the body and brain when abused for the long term. They are a short-term relief, due to the neurological and mental health risks linked to consistent use. This is why recognition, intervention and treatment are essential whilst abusing sleeping pills.
Here’s how to identify sleeping pill addiction, along with what to do if you’re encountering the signs and symptoms. At Nova Recovery, we’re here to provide medical advice, addiction support and treatment.
What Are Sleeping Pills?
Sleeping pills are hypnotic drugs that act as sleep aid. They are medically prescribed to relax the brain and to slow down internal processes.
Attaching themselves to GABA receptors in the brain, sleep medications are effective by controlling and suppressing alertness. They cause a cognitive balance that promotes relaxation and sleep, suitable for people who cannot sleep due to stress, ill-health or due to a sleep disorder.
There are different types of sleeping pills, mostly categorised into benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine medications. They include Melatonin, Z drugs, Clomethiazole, and Barbiturates. Each has different effects and can induce sleep for various timeframes. The general consensus across all types of sleeping pills is that they are only prescribed for the short-term due to their strength and dangers.
Whilst prescribed for the short-term, sleeping pills are however easily abused. Due to their medical backing, they are perceived as harmless and nothing but a sleep aid. Yet they are addictive, they are damaging to mental health, and they can result in long-term dangers.
The Dangers Of Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills can become a part of someone’s nightly routine. Due to the positive effects of sleeping pills, it can be easy for a user to associate their consumption with rest, relaxation, and quality sleep. Sleeping pills are in fact effective whilst inducing healthy rest and quality sleep. Yet due to such association, someone who does struggle to naturally rest without their aid can soon latch on and abuse prescriptions.
The risks of a sleeping pill addiction are very high due to the reinforcements that they cause in the mind. The body and mind can begin to rely on the positive effects of consumption, which can kickstart cravings, withdrawal symptoms and urges if paused.
The positive feelings are however temporary for a user, requiring greater quantities to fuel a sleeping pill addiction. Such quantities can be hazardous to the body and brain, resulting in many unpleasant and disruptive side effects. Side effects of long-term sleeping pill abuse include:
- Problems with balance
- The rebound of sleep disorders
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Sleeping pill cravings
- Gastric issues
- Mental health issues, such as depression and panic
- Headaches and migraines
- Problems with concentration
- Increased risk of accidents and injury due to sedation
- Risks of overdose
- Memory loss
If enabled, a sleeping pill addiction can develop into a co-occurring disorder or can result in lasting damages to the body. Side effects are expected if prescriptions are abused, beyond the advice of medical professionals.
Being aware of how to identify sleeping pill addiction is very important due to the damaging nature of its effects.
Signs You Are Addicted To Sleeping Pills
Identifying an addiction to sleeping pills may initially be tough, especially if you are personally abusing them yourself. There are however some common signs and symptoms which indicate addiction and the inability to pause or discontinue consumption.
- The need to consume sleeping pills in order to unwind
- Misusing prescriptions to feel the effects of sleeping pills
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if consumption is stopped
- Asking for prescriptions sooner than required
- Visiting the dark web to search for illicit sleeping pills
- Turning to alcohol and drugs as an additional relief
- Cravings of consumption
- Continuing with consumption throughout negative consequences and side effects
- Failing to quit the cycle
- Changes in behaviour, attitude, and lifestyle
- The rebound of sleep disorders
- Poor mental health
If someone is consuming sleeping pills for the short-term and is following prescription guidelines, the risks of addiction are low. Yet if consumption habits change, if prescriptions are abused, and if a long-term reliance develops, risks of addiction are high.
If you are experiencing signs of sleep disorders, opting for holistic treatments are recommended over sleeping pills. If you are already abusing sleeping pills, medical intervention will now be encouraged.
Treatment For Sleeping Pill Addiction
A sleeping pill addiction can be treated and can be managed. Someone who is dependent on sleeping pills will need to detox from the medication, in order to get clean and to restore the mind. As sleeping pills are sedative and hypnotic drugs, they can remain in the system for some time, impacting the central nervous system. A full medically assisted detox will be recommended to eliminate the substance.
From here, talking therapies underpinned by cognitive behavioural therapy will be arranged to work through the psychological symptoms and associations of addiction. New coping strategies, holistic therapies and healthy lifestyle choices will also be promoted to induce natural sleep and rest.
For someone with a pre-diagnosed sleep disorder, alternative therapies will be recommended to manage symptoms and reduce the need for a prescribed sleep aid.
Treating any type of addiction will be an individual process, varying for our clients here at Nova Recovery. Treatment will however focus on detoxification, mental restoration, and relapse prevention planning, to avoid future sleeping pill abuse.
If you’re worried about your reliance on sleep medications, reach out to our team for more advice on how to identify sleeping pill addiction. Medications can be extremely dangerous and influential if abused, which is why medical advice should always be sourced. Reach out for support and addiction treatment.
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John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: September 8, 2023
John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.