Treating Addiction To Sleeping Drugs (Z-drugs)
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Treating Addiction To Sleeping Drugs (Z-drugs)
Sleep is health. During sleep, the nervous system is regenerated, the immune system is strengthened, blood pressure is balanced and our psyche is calmed down. It is a different state of consciousness during which our body regenerates. After a full night’s sleep, we are rested, less irritable, have more energy and become more productive during the day. What if sleep doesn’t come?
If one night you are unable to sleep, you will definitely go to the doctor to find an antidote for your ailment. Very often he will write you sleeping pills from the group of so-called Z-drugs to help you sleep safely through the night. However, there is a risk of addiction when taking this group of drugs that you may not be aware of.
What are Z-drugs?
Zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics commonly referred to as Z-drugs. Most Z-drugs are prescribed for conditions related to the treatment of insomnia due to their rapid onset of action and short half-life. Like their benzodiazepine counterparts, Z-drugs also act on our brain’s GABA receptor.
Z-drugs generally cover a wide class of non-benzodiazepine drugs, among which we distinguish primarily:
- Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnox, Nasen, Zolpic, Intermezzo, Edluar, Zolpimist)
- Zopiclone (Dobrosom, Imovane, Lunesta)
- Zaleplon (Morfeo, Sonata)
Zolpidem was originally created to be as medically effective as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Diazepam), but to have less addictive potential. However, although it often requires more time, taking zolpidem develops psychophysical dependence and can cause the same dangerous consequences as taking benzodiazepines.
Zolpidem’s makers touted it as a safer and less addictive alternative to benzodiazepines. For this reason, many people who take zolpidem are unaware of its addictive potential.
How does addiction to Z-drugs work?
Z-drugs should only be prescribed for short-term use. Taking the preparations for more than 2 to 4 weeks is associated with the development of mental and physical dependence, which is manifested by the inability to fall asleep without the use of drugs.
Physical dependence on Z-drugs can develop within 2 weeks of starting treatment with the drug, regardless of whether the patient follows the doctor’s instructions or abuses the preparation. Addiction to zolpidem is characterized by developing tolerance to the effects of the preparation, as a result of which the patient needs more and more doses of the substance to feel the same effect. It is also typical of addiction to experience withdrawal symptoms, which occur as soon as the patient reduces the dose of zolpidem or stops taking it.
Over time, the need to take zolpidem becomes a full-blown addiction, which is manifested by: tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, impaired control of taking the preparation, compulsive abuse, and continuation of taking the drug despite noticing its negative effects on life. Many people don’t realize they have a problem with sleeping pills until they are unable to fall asleep without using them.
Symptoms of addiction to Z-drugs:
- Frequent visits to the doctor to obtain a prescription for the drug
- Taking higher doses than prescribed by your doctor
- The need to take the preparation
- Combining sleeping pills with other substances (e.g. alcohol)
- Retrograde amnesia
- Allocating large amounts of money to obtain the drug
- Social isolation
In most cases, dependence on zolpidem develops due to short-term treatment of sleep disorders. Some patients underestimate the risk of addiction because zolpidem has been prescribed by a doctor and helps them sleep through the night quickly and easily. After a few weeks of using the preparation, the sleep problems worsen, because the patient is unable to sleep and function normally without taking high doses of the drug.
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Side effects of Z-drugs
Abuse of sleeping pills is associated with a number of side effects. Among the most disturbing are the parasomnias, in which the addicted person may drive a car, have sex, or perform other activities while sleeping. Such cases are very dangerous. Patients do not remember events and actions that have taken place in their lives. In extreme cases, this can lead to serious accidents, injuries and even death.
Other common side effects of overusing Z-drugs are:
- Dizziness
- Metallic aftertaste
- Entanglement
- Intoxication or euphoria
- Excessive sleepiness after waking up
- Memory loss
- Eye pain
- Decreased appetite
- Thoughts of suicide
The symptoms of an overdose of sleeping pills are
- Loss of consciousness
- Extreme disorientation
- Respiratory disorders
Treatment of addiction to sleeping pills Z-drugs at Zeus Rehab
Lack of sleep disrupts the quality of life. People are desperate for the sleep they need. At Zeus Rehab, we understand your problem and have great empathy for people addicted to sleeping pills (zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon). We are the leading addiction treatment center in Europe (EU). We conduct treatment in the privacy of our exclusive residence and luxurious surroundings.
During treatment at Zeus Rehab, we will provide you with care at all levels of treatment, from detoxification and withdrawal of sleeping pills, through psychotherapeutic support, to motivation after the end of treatment. We will base a personalized therapeutic program on your whole person, analyzing: your lifestyle, diet, health condition, habits, history and the type and degree of addiction.
Z-drugs hypnotic detoxmedically assisted is indicated when zolpidem is discontinued. Detoxifying on your own is dangerous and very difficult. At Zeus Rehab, you will receive 24/7 care of our experienced and empathetic medical staff during detoxification. Withdrawal symptoms from hypnotics decrease or disappear within 1 or 2 weeks, but may persist for longer. A personalized and detailed plan for your detox from sleeping pills will depend on:
- History of using the preparation - the longer you use sleeping pills, the greater the risk of developing severe withdrawal symptoms
- Dosages - the higher the dose you consume, the longer your detoxification time will be
- Combining with other psychoactive substances - in the case of co-occurrence of dependence on other psychoactive substances (alcohol, opioids), the detoxification process will be complicated. That is why it is so important that you put yourself in the hands of specialists who will take care of your safety and health.
Stationary addiction therapy is the next step in your treatment of addiction to sleeping pills. During your individualized treatment program, you will learn healthy strategies for dealing with the temptation to reach for an addictive substance. Thanks to our integrated combination of therapies, you will acquire the skills necessary to successfully recover and start to deal with the difficulties that addiction has provoked. You will be able to recognize the mental and emotional motives that led to your addiction and work through them in a highly compassionate and supportive environment.
During the treatment of addiction to sleeping pills (zolpidem, zopiclone, zaleplon) at Zeus Rehab, we will make recovery easy, safe and effective. We will introduce healthy practices into your lifestyle. We will take care of repairing sleep hygiene – you will start going to sleep and waking up at the same time. In addition, we will make sure that you feel completely safe during your stay with us. Therefore, your bedroom will be as relaxing as possible and your stay will take place in a 5* room.
You will begin to lead a fulfilling life where you feel good without the need for sleeping pills.
We treat:
Zolpidem addiction (Stilnox, Nasen, Ambien, Zolpic, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist)
Zopiclone addiction (Dobroson, Imovane, Lunesta)
Zaleplon Addiction (Morfeo, Sonata)
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We invite you to our residence, where you will feel extremely safe and comfortable, and our staff will take care of your peace and anonymity.