Healing From Sleeping Pill Addiction: Why Dependence Happens and How Recovery Works

What Are Sleeping Pills?

A sleeping aid is a type of drug, either prescription or over the counter,  intended to provide temporary relief from insomnia and other sleep disorders.[1] Many prescription sleeping medications work by enhancing GABA activity in the brain, producing sedation and slowing brain activity.[2] 

Prescription sleep aids are generally classified into several groups:

• Z-Drugs (non-benzodiazepines), including zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata). Originally introduced as safer alternatives to benzodiazepines, these substances still carry high addiction potential.
• Barbiturates, including phenobarbital. Although used less frequently today, there are still certain circumstances where barbiturates are prescribed.
• Some antidepressants, such as Trazodone and Mirtazapine, are prescribed off-label for sleep and carry fewer risks for addiction but still have their own side effects.
• Non-prescription sleeping aids such as Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, ZzzQuil) and doxylamine. This type of sleep aid carries its own set of health risks and rarely leads to addiction; however, daily use can result in long-term health issues.

Among the substances most commonly associated with sleeping pill addiction are Z-drugs, particularly Ambien.[3]

 

Sleeping Pill Addiction and Abuse

Why are sleeping drugs like Ambien so addictive? Like other GABA-enhancing drugs, it produces sedation by decreasing brain activity, and when consumed regularly, the brain adjusts to the presence of the drug. Once this happens, the body stops responding to a given amount, driving the user to take larger or more frequent doses to feel the same effect, and, if stopped, produces withdrawal symptoms.[4] 

It only takes 2 to 4 weeks of nightly use, even at prescribed doses, to develop physical dependency.[5] Clinical guidelines suggest limiting Z-drug prescriptions to short-term use, typically no more than two to four weeks. However, in practice, many people continue using them well beyond this timeframe.

Sleeping pill dependence and addiction usually happen in one of two ways: the first starts with the gradual escalation of a prescription. Someone starts off taking their prescription as directed, builds tolerance to it, and then continues taking larger doses to feel the same effects as before, until they find themselves unable to sleep at all without it. 

The second way is by abusing sleeping pills — taking pills without a prescription, using a higher dose than prescribed, mixing sleeping pills with other depressants such as alcohol or opioids, or using sleeping pills recreationally. Both methods result in the same outcome: a brain and body accustomed to having a constant supply of the medication.

Co-occurring disorders are also very common; many people with sleeping pill addiction often struggle with unmanaged anxiety, depression, chronic stress, or trauma, which may be the root causes of their sleep disorder.[6] A successful treatment plan must address both the substance use problem and the psychological conditions that prompted the original prescription.

 

Sleeping Pills Addiction Symptoms

Identifying a sleeping pill addiction is often complicated. Sleeping pills are frequently prescribed and legal. They are taken at night when there is no one around to see, and people who take them for extended periods may not display obvious outward signs of substance use. 

However, there are signs to look for. Some of the most common include:

Behavioral

• Taking higher doses than directed
• Taking sleeping pills earlier in the evening or during the day
• Doctor shopping (trying to get multiple prescriptions from multiple doctors)
• Secretive behavior
• Lying about dosage
• Mixing sleep aids with other substances, including alcohol

Physical

• Daytime drowsiness
• Low heart rate
• Slurred speech
• Clumsiness
• Amnesia
• Sleepwalking or performing complex activities during sleep
• Falls
• Dizzy spells

Psychological 

• Anxiety after missing a dose
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Confusion
• Emotional numbness

If you notice yourself or a family member displaying these symptoms, help is available — and seeking professional help early can significantly reduce the medical risks associated with withdrawal.

Sleeping Pill Withdrawal and Detox

Not everyone who is addicted to sleeping pills will require medically assisted detoxification. Z-drug withdrawal does not usually cause medical emergencies; however, it can result in severe insomnia, anxiety, and very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.[7] Older sedatives such as barbiturates carry significant withdrawal risks of their own.[8]

Forward Motion Health is not a detox facility; however, if our clinical staff deems it medically necessary that you start your recovery with detox, our admissions staff can coordinate placement with one of our trusted Florida-based detox partners. 

Often, the best course of action is a medically supervised tapering schedule, determined by the type and strength of the medication, how long it has been taken, and your overall medical condition. After detox is complete, clients can then transition into our residential treatment program if that is the right step.

Sleeping Pill Addiction Treatment Options

While stopping use of the sleeping pill is the first step in treating addiction, it is far from the last. 

If residential treatment is a level of care you need, then Forward Motion Health provides a safe and supportive treatment program that offers 24-hour clinical care, free from outside triggers and other distractions. Our clinical staff will develop an individualized treatment program that offers evidence-based and holistic therapies.

For many of our clients, the most important part of effective treatment is being able to identify and address the sleep and underlying issues that led them to seek a sleeping pill solution in the first place. Sleeping pills are usually a symptom; the underlying issue is what needs honest attention.