Table of contents:
- Could a person be dependent on sleeping pills?
- What are the consequences if you are dependent on sleeping pills?
- How can you prevent sleeping pills?
Sleeping pills are drugs designed to help you fall asleep, especially for those of you who are experiencing insomnia and are on treatment. Some sleeping pills use a doctor's prescription and some are sold freely in the market. In its use, you need to be careful because if used carelessly, sleeping pills can have serious consequences on the body and health. Not only that, you will experience sleeping pills dependence condition which will make it difficult for you to fall asleep without taking them first.
Could a person be dependent on sleeping pills?
Sleeping pills are usually used for people who have cases of insomnia, both long and short term. In the case of short-term insomnia, the doctor will usually prescribe sleeping pills for several weeks. However, after regular use for a longer period of time, the sleeping pills you are using may no longer be able to make you fall asleep. This is because the body is starting to become resistant or immune to the drug so you need an even higher dose.
Although the dangers of using long-term sleeping pills haven't been studied, dr. Carl Bazil from Columbia University said that the biggest danger from its use is that it can lead to addiction.
Taking sleeping pills regularly can cause you to be physically and psychologically dependent. Psychological addiction to sleeping pills is characterized by anxiety that arises when you think about not taking them. Your brain thinks hard that without sleeping pills, you will find it difficult to sleep. Even though it hasn't happened yet and you just thought about it.
Meanwhile, physical dependence can be seen when your body is accustomed to sleeping pills and when you suddenly stop it, your body condition will become disorganized and even have excessive difficulty resting properly.
What are the consequences if you are dependent on sleeping pills?
According to a report released by America's substance abuse agency and mental health services administration, the number of emergency room visits involving an overdose of zolpidem - the active ingredient in some prescription sleeping pills - nearly doubled between 2005 and 2010. This figure increased from 21,824 visits in a year. the two-year period to 42,274 and two-thirds were women.
Sleeping pills can indeed improve your sleep patterns quickly. However, this is only a temporary and not a long-term solution to sleep problems in general. Women are at higher risk than men in the use of sleeping pills. This is because women tend to process sleeping pills slower than men.
In January 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (the US equivalent of the POM) lowered the recommended dosage for women from 10 mg to 5 mg. But some doctors still prescribe women more than that and if the dose is too high, the effect on the body will be even stronger.
Daniel F. Kripke, MD, of the Viterbi Family Sleep Center at Scripps Health in San Diego states that sleeping pills are harmful to health and can cause death by contributing to cancer, heart disease and other diseases. Kripke's study is the first to show that eight of the most commonly used hypnotic drugs are associated with an increased risk of death and cancer, including zolpidem (known by the brand name Ambien) and temazepam (also known as Restoril).
Robert D. Langer, MD, MPH, of the Jackson Hole Center for Preventive Medicine in Jackson, Wyoming states that among patients aged 18 and over who were prescribed one to 18 sleeping pills per year, the risk of dying was 3.6 times greater. higher compared with participants who did not receive treatment. Langer also found an increased risk of death across all age groups.
How can you prevent sleeping pills?
Many people do not realize that they are addicted to sleeping pills. For people who want to deal with sleeping drug addiction, it is best to seek professional help before it causes any serious physical or mental harm.
The first step to dealing with sleeping pills dependence is to get off the medication. This should be done slowly and under the guidance of a doctor to reduce painful and potentially fatal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be very useful for learning new ways of thinking about using these drugs and as new ways to treat insomnia.
Many experts recommend reducing the dose of sleeping pills for several weeks to several months before stopping the drug completely. During this time, you should seek recovery help through a counseling support group to encourage your progress and avoid relapse.
