Can I stop taking prescription sleeping pills suddenly

The use of sleeping pills is usually intended to help those of you who have trouble sleeping. There are sleeping pills that can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies, but some can only be obtained by prescription from a doctor. All types of drugs, including sleeping pills, have their own drinking rules that each user must obey. So, while taking prescription sleeping pills, can you stop halfway?

What are the types of prescription sleeping pills?

The decision to use sleeping pills is inevitably made by those of you who have trouble sleeping soundly, and can even stay up all night. However, the rules for taking sleeping pills should not be arbitrary, especially sleeping pills prescribed by a doctor.

There are various things that need to be considered by doctors before determining the type of sleeping pills along with the right dosage. Starting from the underlying cause, to the presence or absence of certain medical conditions that you have.

This is because prescription sleeping pills have side effects behind them, especially for those of you who have certain medical conditions. For example, liver disease and kidney disease, which can worsen your health condition if you don't drink it according to the rules.

Armed with these things, then the doctor can determine the type of sleeping pills that are right for you. That is why, you cannot just drink or stop suddenly while being treated by taking prescription sleeping pills.

Launching from the Mayo Clinic, there are several types of sleeping pills that are usually prescribed by doctors. Includes doxepin (Silenor), estazolam, eszopiclone (Lunesta), ramelteon (Rozerem), temazepam (Restoril), and triazolam (Halcion).

There are also zaleplon (Sonata), zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist), and suvorexant (Belsomra).

Can I stop taking prescription sleeping pills suddenly?

When you are routinely undergoing insomnia treatment with the help of sleeping pills, you should obey several important things. For example, it is prohibited to take sleeping pills at the same time as alcohol, and avoid taking sleeping pills while driving and operating machinery.

In addition, you are also not allowed to stop taking prescription sleeping pills suddenly in the middle of your treatment without consulting your doctor first. This is even more so if you have been regularly taking these prescription sleeping pills for quite a long time.

Not without reason. You are not advised to stop taking prescription sleeping pills to prevent the appearance of various bad side effects afterwards. For example experiencing anxiety, nausea, to muscle cramps.

In fact, not everyone immediately experiences bad side effects after stopping taking prescription sleeping pills suddenly. This depends on the type of sleeping medicine used, the frequency of drinking it in a day, and how long it has been used.

How can I safely stop taking prescription sleeping pills?

According to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, the best way to stop taking prescription sleeping pills is to gradually reduce the dosage. Don't forget, also obey all doctor's recommendations during the process of quitting the routine of taking this sleeping pill.

On the other hand, psychological support can also help you to slowly quit your prescription medication routine. Avoid stopping your routine of taking prescription sleeping pills yourself.

Your doctor will usually give you the proper rules until you can stop taking prescription sleeping pills completely. There are two ways, for example, by gradually reducing the dose of the drug or the frequency of taking the drug.

This is further explained by Michael J. Sateia, MD, a lecturer in psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School. If you regularly take sleeping pills every night, you can reduce the frequency of taking your medication once a week.

So, within 7 days, you will only take sleeping pills for 6 days. When you get used to it, you can increase the frequency of taking sleeping pills to 2 days.

And so on until you succeed in only taking sleeping pills 1 time a week, so you don't drink it at all. Meanwhile, to reduce the dose of sleeping pills, it can also be done gradually.

Again, make sure you have consulted your doctor first. The doctor will later determine the best way so that you can stop taking prescription sleeping pills according to your condition.

The process of quitting your routine of taking prescription sleeping pills is not short. That is why, you are advised to be patient and continue to comply with the rules stated by the doctor.