Key Takeaways:

• Sleeping pills can cause tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction, especially when taken in larger doses, more frequently, or longer than prescribed.
• Sleeping pill addiction signs may include cravings, daytime drowsiness, memory problems, increasing doses, unsuccessful attempts to quit, and continued use despite harmful consequences.
• Professional sleeping pill addiction treatment may include supervised detox, behavioral therapy, mental health care, and relapse-prevention support for lasting recovery.

What You Should Know About Sleeping Pills

Not being able to go to sleep or stay asleep is a problem that plagues many people. It can become such an issue, causing anxiety, depression, irritability, poor decision-making, accidents, and injuries, that people become desperate to be able to sleep soundly and without interruption. As a result, many people with insomnia or other sleep problems turn to sleep medications for help. 

While some people are able to treat short-term sleeping issues with medication, many become dependent on sleeping pills. And the prevalence of use is ever increasing. In the five years from 2006 until 2011, over 38 million prescriptions for sleep medication were written. With such accessibility, it is no wonder that so many users become dependent on the medications. 

Because sleep medication is prescribed by doctors, many people assume that it is safe and not addictive. Unfortunately, that just isn’t true. Consequently, many people find that after starting sleep medications, they cannot sleep without their help, or they need to increase the dosage to be able to sleep. 

What are Sleeping Pills? 

Sleeping pills were created to encourage drowsiness in people who have difficulty sleeping. They are categorized as sedative-hypnotics. This category also includes barbiturates and benzodiazepines. However, sleeping pills are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics. They are also called “z-drugs” as they prompt sleep. 

Although sleep medications have a different molecular makeup than benzodiazepines, they have a similar effect on the brain. They bind to the same receptors (known as GABA receptors) as benzodiazepines, aiming to control the part of the brain that affects the ability to focus and relax. Sleeping pills are considered safer than benzodiazepines because they have fewer side effects. But that doesn’t mean that they are completely safe. 

Common Types of Sleeping Pills

Several prescription and over-the-counter medications are used to treat insomnia and other sleep problems. Prescription sleeping pills commonly include zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata), which are often called Z-drugs. Benzodiazepines and certain sedating medications may also be prescribed when someone has difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Although these medications can be beneficial when taken as directed, some sleeping pills can cause tolerance, physical dependence, or addiction. Tolerance develops when the original dose no longer produces the same effect, leading some people to take larger or more frequent doses. Physical dependence means the body has adapted to the medication and may experience withdrawal when its use is reduced or stopped.

Sleeping pill addiction involves more than physical dependence. A person may experience cravings, lose control over their medication use, or continue taking sleeping pills despite problems involving their health, relationships, or responsibilities. Using someone else’s prescription, combining sleeping pills with other substances, or taking them for reasons other than sleep may also indicate misuse.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleeping Pill Abuse

For many people who take sleep medication, dependency or addiction begins when they start increasing their doses to be able to sleep. Many people do this without consulting their doctor, even though they have been warned that it isn’t safe to do so. When a person requires more of the medication to be able to fall asleep, it is an indication that they are becoming physically dependent on the sleep drug. 

Many people don’t even realize that they have become dependent on sleeping pills until they cease taking them. Suddenly, not only can they not sleep, but they begin to suffer from withdrawal symptoms – a sure sign of addiction.

Substance misuse of sleeping pills is different. There are some individuals who are prescribed sleep drugs and take more of the medication than is prescribed for recreational purposes. This behavior may indicate the presence of an addiction, commonly called a substance use disorder. 

When someone is overusing or abusing sleeping pills, certain signs and symptoms may be noticeable, including: 

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Drowsiness during the daytime (or waking hours) 
• Garbled or slurred speech
• Memory loss
• Trouble with concentration
• Itching
• Mood swings
• Unsteady movements
• Nightmares or odd dreams
• Hallucinations 

When someone is misusing sleep medications, one of the most common indications of the abuse is that they take them at all times of the day, not just at bedtime. They are using them for the euphoric effect they produce, not to sleep. There may also be a fixation with nighttime to legitimize the use of the drugs. People who are addicted to sleeping pills usually run out of their prescription faster than someone who takes them as prescribed because of their persistent use. 

Addiction to sleeping pills often includes some or all of the following signs: 

• Failing to be able to quit taking the medication, even after many attempts
• Craving sleeping pills
• Continuing the medication even though they have suffered negative consequences
• Experiencing memory loss from the medication
• Doctor shopping (seeing more than one doctor for prescriptions) for the medication

Effects of Sleep Medication Abuse

Typically, doctors only prescribe sleep medication for short-term use and only for severe cases of insomnia. The medications are fast-acting, and they are often used on an as-needed basis. Unfortunately, many people begin using the drugs anytime they have trouble falling asleep or even when they are just worried that they aren’t going to be able to sleep. It’s also common for people with sleep medication prescriptions to take the medication when life situations cause them anxiety or stress. 

When medication is used in ways other than how the doctor prescribed it, it is considered abuse. When used in higher doses, sleep medication produces the same drowsy, feel-good effects as the highly addictive benzodiazepines. They can also produce hallucinations when someone takes them but fights sleep. 

Other sleep medication effects include: 

• Decreased anxiety
• Lack of coordination
• Dizziness
• Dreamless sleep
• Lightheadedness

Unfortunately, sleep medication abuse has escalated as people have begun to use them recreationally. They can intensify the effects of alcohol or cause similar feelings as an alcohol buzz when taken alone. They are becoming increasingly popular among young people still living with parents whose pills can easily be taken. 

Sleep medication can affect brain function as early as the first dose is taken. Over time, the brain becomes used to the effects of the medication, and recovery becomes harder. It is common for people recovering from sleeping pill addiction to have “rebound insomnia,” which is a compounded insomnia that is worse than what they had before taking the medication to start. This is a very common side effect and shouldn’t be used as an excuse to continue taking sleep medication. Medically supervised detox is recommended for sleep medication addiction and can help minimize insomnia and other withdrawal symptoms. 

Sleeping Pill Withdrawal Symptoms

Sleeping pill withdrawal can occur when someone who has developed physical dependence suddenly reduces their dose or stops taking the medication. The severity and duration of withdrawal depend on the type of sleeping pill, dosage, frequency of use, overall health, and whether other substances are involved.

Common sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Rebound insomnia
• Anxiety or irritability
• Restlessness
• Sweating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shaking or tremors
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes
• Increased heart rate
• Unusual dreams

In severe cases, withdrawal from certain sedative medications can cause confusion, hallucinations, or seizures. People who have been taking sleeping pills regularly should not discontinue them abruptly without consulting a qualified healthcare professional. Medically supervised detox can provide monitoring and help manage withdrawal symptoms while the medication is reduced safely.

Rebound insomnia is especially common during sleeping pill withdrawal. Although temporary sleep difficulties can be frustrating, they do not necessarily mean that a person cannot sleep without medication permanently. Addiction treatment can help clients develop healthier sleep habits and address the underlying stress, anxiety, trauma, or mental health symptoms contributing to sleeping pill misuse.

When Sleeping Pills are Combined with Other Drugs

Many people who take sleep medication prescriptions don’t pay attention to the warning labels that advise them not to mix the medication with alcohol. Doing so can be a fatal combination. The sedative effect of sleeping pills is intensified when taken with alcohol, which increases the risk of a fatal overdose. But those with a severe addiction often use alcohol to increase the potency of the sleep medication. 

Other drugs that are commonly combined with sleep medication include: 

• Opioid pain medication
• Benzodiazepines
• Antidepressants

How Is Sleeping Pill Addiction Treated?

Sleeping pill addiction treatment begins with an assessment of the person’s medication use, withdrawal risk, physical health, mental health, and recovery needs. Because abruptly stopping certain sleeping pills may cause serious withdrawal symptoms, treatment may begin with supervised detox or a medically directed taper.

After withdrawal is stabilized, ongoing addiction treatment addresses the behaviors and underlying concerns associated with sleeping pill misuse. Depending on the person, treatment may include:

• Residential addiction treatment
• Day treatment or Partial Hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Individual and group therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Mental health treatment
• Relapse-prevention planning
• Family education and counseling

Therapy can help clients identify triggers, manage cravings, and develop coping strategies for stress or nighttime anxiety. Treatment may also address co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or another substance use disorder. When sleep problems continue, clients can work with appropriate healthcare professionals to explore healthier sleep routines and non-addictive approaches to managing insomnia.

There is no single timeline for overcoming sleeping pill addiction. Recovery depends on factors such as the medication involved, length of use, dosage, co-occurring conditions, and level of support. A personalized treatment plan gives each client the structure and resources needed to pursue lasting recovery.

Why People Choose My Time Recovery For Sleeping Pill Addiction Treatment

My Time Recovery provides personalized sleeping pill addiction treatment in Fresno in a comfortable and supportive environment. Clients choose our family-owned treatment center because we offer:

• Individualized treatment plans
• Detox and withdrawal support
• Residential and outpatient programs
• Individual and group therapy
• Treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and insomnia
• Relapse-prevention strategies
• Support from an experienced treatment team

Our programs help clients stop misusing sleeping pills, address the causes of addiction, and develop healthier coping and sleep habits. 

Finding Sleeping Pill Addiction Treatment in Fresno

Sleeping pill addiction can lead to dependence, worsening sleep problems, and withdrawal symptoms that may require professional care. My Time Recovery provides personalized sleeping pill addiction treatment in Fresno to address substance use and underlying mental health concerns. Depending on each client’s needs, treatment may include supervised detox, residential care, day treatment, or outpatient services. Call My Time Recovery Today!

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