Unfortunately for the more than 600,000 Americans currently reported to be abusing Ambien, this prescription sleeping pill was not designed for long-term use. Ambien was developed as a sleep aid for occasional bouts of insomnia. Its true purpose was never meant to be for individuals with long-term sleep issues.
For some, a long-term Ambien addiction begins completely innocently with a desire to get a full night of sleep. These individuals may become reliant on the pill if they don’t look for other methods of getting to sleep because Ambien is not a cure for an insomniac. The message that Ambien should be used only as an occasional band-aid for this issue may be lost on patients or may not be explained thoroughly by the medical community. However, for someone who craves a good night’s sleep, you can see how easily they may come to start relying on Ambien with increased frequency.
For others, they may start using Ambien recreationally for its intoxicating effects. In certain individuals susceptible to addiction, this can be a slippery slope that first leads to physical dependence. As someone starts developing a tolerance to the drug, they may start using it in a more dangerous manner by crushing, snorting or injecting it. This causes the time-release pills to dump the medication into an individual’s system all at once, resulting in a high rather than releasing the active ingredient over many hours as it was designed.
What Are the Physical and Psychological Effects of Short-Term Ambien Use?
After just one to two weeks of continual Ambien use, a rebound effect can occur that produces insomnia that is worse than before the drug was started. After one month of repeated usage, damage to a patient’s ability to move through the different stages of sleep is possible. Also, in this short period of time, Ambien addiction may develop as well.
What Are the Physical and Psychological Effects of Long-Term Ambien Use?
When someone continues to abuse Ambien for an extended period of time, there are many possible negative side effects including:
- Delusions
- Seizures
- Decreased judgment and reasoning abilities
- Impaired libido
- Physical and/or emotional dependence
- Overdose
Dangerous Interactions That May Occur During a Long-Term Ambien Addiction
Nearly 20,000 emergency room visits a year are attributed to complications with the use of Ambien. Some of these cases may be from overdose or accidental interactions. Ambien is a sedative and therefore should never be taken simultaneously with other central nervous system depressants such as:
- Alcohol
- Pain medications
- Allergy prescriptions
- Cold relievers
Combining Ambien with depressants may cause life-threatening reductions in both respiration and heart rate.
Safe Rehab For a Long-Term Ambien Addiction
The sedative effects of Ambien reduces the speed at which the brain functions. For this reason, it is essential for an individual with a long-term addiction to seek professional Ambien rehab before they detox. During withdrawal from Ambien, the slow brain activity can rebound and speed up at such a rate that the body cannot manage it, resulting in seizures.
If you are looking for Ambien rehab for yourself or a loved one then contact us today. We can match you with safe, professional, high-rated Ambien rehab programs around the US. Call us now and start down the road to a life free of addiction.
