Sleeping Pill Withdrawal And Detox

Statistics say that anywhere from a third to one half of Americans experience sleep-related issues, and many of them turn to sleeping pills for a solution. Sleeping pills fall into the drug classification of sedative-hypnotics, which also include barbiturates and benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Librium and Valium). Individuals can become dependent on sleeping pills and feel as though they cannot sleep without them, especially after long periods of use. Unfortunately, many people do not know they have become dependent on sleeping pills until they attempt to stop.

Many people who quit using sleeping pills experience withdrawals. Withdrawal symptoms can last several weeks depending on how long you have been using the medication and dosage levels. The best way to manage withdrawal symptoms is by going through medical detox.

People who stop taking sleeping pills commonly report varying levels of withdrawal symptoms. Sleeping pills can cause physical and psychological dependence, which makes them particularly difficult to overcome. But with the right treatment plan in place, you can safely purge your system of sleeping pills and get your life back on track.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person. Common symptoms include:

• Seizures
• Delirium
• Body spasms
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Confusion
• Heart rate changes
• Tremors
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Most withdrawal symptoms associated with sleeping pills are not life-threatening, but complications can occur if you are not careful. Rebound insomnia is one of the most common withdrawal symptoms people experience after quitting sleeping pills. Rebound insomnia happens because the body is still dependent on drugs to fall asleep in the first few weeks after quitting. During this time, a patient’s insomnia returns, sometimes worse than they previously experienced.

The timeline for sleeping pill withdrawals varies on a case-by-case basis. You may experience these symptoms within hours after your last dosage. In general, symptoms decrease in intensity a week after quitting, though psychological issues may persist for up to a month. During the first few days after you stop taking sleeping pills, you may experience anxiety, nausea, vomiting and hallucinations. Between four and ten days after quitting, drug cravings may surface and withdrawal symptoms will typically peak. These symptoms will usually start tapering off between 11 and 17 days after stoppage, though psychological issues may last another week or so. Heavy sleeping pill dependencies have been known to cause depression and drug cravings for several months.

Cocaine addiction is among the most prevalent conditions treated in rehab facilities. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported around 910,000 Americans meeting the criteria for cocaine dependence in 2014. With thousands trying cocaine for the first time every year, it’s inevitable that many will develop an abusive habit and require intervention from a doctor or treatment center.

The cocaine addiction rate is, in one way or another, related to several other alarming statistics. Some of the numbers related to cocaine abuse and cocaine addiction are:

• Between 5,000 and 6,000 unintentional deaths in the U.S. each year involve cocaine.
• In 2011, approximately 505,000 of the 1.3 million emergency room visits related to drug misuse involved cocaine.
• In 2015, between 1.8 percent and 2.3 percent of U.S. 12th graders (4.4 percent on the West Coast) used cocaine.
• Seventeen percent of people who try cocaine develop a dependency.
• Fifty to 90 percent of people who are addicted to cocaine experience relapse when attempting to get clean without professional help.

Though the mainstream appeal of cocaine may have diminished slightly since the 1980s, the potent powder continues to infiltrate our country and present a real danger to those who choose to experiment. Cocaine addiction is still a threat. In 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard seized more than $5.6 billion in cocaine — 416,600 pounds. An estimated 2,834 tons of the drug were shipped to the U.S. in 2016, compared to 577 tons in 2013. Only 7 percent of these shipments were seized. The widespread availability of the drug has translated to an unfortunate toll among those who use it; cocaine-related overdose deaths rose from 11 to 13 percent between 2010 and 2015.

Additional studies show that cocaine’s street price has fallen 20 percent over the last 20 years, making it easier than ever for just about anyone to find, purchase and face the many serious consequences of the substance. Is cocaine addictive? Yes, but help is available to treat cocaine addiction at rehab facilities like The Recovery Village.

Medical detox is usually the first step in ending your dependency on sleeping pills. A typical detox program will help you gradually taper off the drug and provide you with medical monitoring. A medical team will keep an eye on your vitals during the day and make sure the withdrawal symptoms do not lead to unstable conditions. If your symptoms become too severe, your doctor can adjust the treatment plan to allow your body more time to adjust. The detox period usually lasts for a few weeks, and outpatient care is typically recommended afterward. Continuing treatment after detox can help you reach long-term recovery and help manage psychological issues down the road.

Choosing the right addiction center for sleeping pill dependencies has never been easier. With over nine million Americans currently taking sleeping pills, there are great treatment facilities across the country. When picking the right center for your addiction, look for facilities that feature in-depth detox programs staffed by medical professionals. It’s also good to find centers that focus on more than just the drug dependency, especially if you have a co-occurring disorder, like insomnia.

Contact us at www.TheRecoveryVillage.com if you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder. You can also call our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 855-548-9825 for immediate assistance. We can help you overcome your addiction today and get you on the road to recovery.