The use of prescription sleeping pills comes with the potential for abuse, physical dependence, and addiction. But are sleeping pills dangerous in other ways, as well? Can they even be deadly in certain circumstances? Research shows that the answer to these questions is yes. Misuse of sleep medication can lead to severe or even fatal health complications. A sleeping pill abuse rehab in Colorado will help you avoid these kinds of severe, unwanted outcomes.
What Are Sleeping Pills?
What are sleeping pills, and when are these pills prescribed? Medications in this category work in a variety of ways. However, they all share the common goal of helping you sleep better.
Many of the most commonly prescribed sleeping pills are benzodiazepines or benzos. Examples of these medications include flurazepam, estazolam, temazepam, and triazolam. Medications known as Z-drugs are also prescribed to promote sleep. Potential options here include:
- Zopiclone
- Zaleplon
- Zolpidem, better known as Ambien
Some people who take prescription sleeping pills have insomnia. This means that they have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Your doctor may also recommend a sleep medication to help lower your anxiety levels.
Are Sleeping Pills Dangerous?
Even when taken as prescribed, sleeping pills can produce dangerous side effects. For example, you may experience an allergic reaction to your medication. In addition, some people who take sleeping pills engage in risky behaviors such as sleepwalking or sleep-driving.
Abuse or misuse of a sleeping pill can lead to other kinds of problems. One major potential issue is the development of physical dependence. As a rule, if you’re dependent, you must keep taking your medication to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms. However, continued abuse increases the odds that you will eventually become addicted. Addicted people are psychologically dependent, as well as physically dependent. In addition, they engage in compulsive, drug-seeking behavior.
Are Sleeping Pills Deadly?
You can potentially overdose on both benzos and Z-drugs. If there are no other substances in your system, your overdose risks are relatively low. However, people who take sleeping pills often use additional substances.
The list of these substances includes:
- Alcohol
- Opioids
- Sedative antidepressants
If you take any of these substances in combination with benzos, your overdose risks can increase dramatically. That’s true because, like benzos themselves, they slow down the function of your central nervous system. By itself, a benzo may not slow your system down enough to trigger an overdose. However, adding one of these other substances can have a life-threatening or even lethal impact.
The use of multiple substances is also a common factor in Z-drug overdoses. In many cases, the substance in question is an opioid medication. People who take prescription opioids long-term have increased risks of developing insomnia. That’s true because opioids disrupt important parts of your normal sleep cycle.
To combat this insomnia, many doctors prescribe a Z-drug. However, research shows that the use of Z-drugs increases the odds that you will overdose on a prescription opioid. Undoubtedly, the same risk applies to combined use with street opioids.
Learn More by Contacting Women’s Recovery Today
Are sleeping pills deadly? In some situations, they can be. Are there especially deadly sleeping pills? Today, the most common options pose limited risks for fatalities when used on their own. However, combined with certain other substances, they can potentially trigger fatal outcomes.
To learn more about your risks, talk to the specialists at Women’s Recovery. You can also turn to our in-house experts for top-notch treatment of sleeping pill addiction. We’re dedicated to helping affected women regain their health and well-being. Call us today at 833.754.0554 for more information or fill out our brief online form.
