Ambien Addiction Information
Ambien Addiction
Ambien induces sleep and causes relaxation. It is used to treat sleep disorders such as trouble falling asleep, waking up many times during the night, or waking up too early in the morning. It is classified as a CNS depressant. CNS depressants slow normal brain function. In higher doses, some CNS depressants can become general anesthetics. Tranquilizers and sedatives are examples of CNS depressants.
Despite the beneficial effect, Ambien has the potential for addiction and should be used only as prescribed. During the first few days of taking Ambien, a person usually feels sleepy and uncoordinated, but as the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the drug, these feelings begin to disappear. If one uses these drugs long term, the body will develop tolerance for the drugs, and larger doses will be needed to achieve the same initial effects. In addition,
continued use can lead to ambien addiction and withdrawal. Because all CNS depressants work by slowing the brain's activity, when an individual stops taking them, the brain's activity can rebound and race out of control, possibly leading to seizures and other harmful consequences. Although withdrawal can be problematic, it is rarely life threatening. Therefore, someone who is thinking about discontinuing Ambien therapy or who is suffering ambien addiction
should speak with a physician or seek medical treatment.
Treating Ambien Addiction
In addition to medically supervised detox, counseling in an in-patient or out-patient setting can help people who are overcoming addiction to Ambien. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy has been used successfully to help individuals in treatment for abuse of Ambien. This type of therapy focuses on modifying a patient’s thinking, expectations, and behaviors while simultaneously increasing their skills for coping with various life stressors. Often
the abuse of CNS depressants occurs in conjunction with the abuse of another substance or drug, such as alcohol or cocaine. In these cases of poly drug abuse, the treatment approach should address the multiple addictions.
Patients addicted to Ambien should not attempt to stop taking them on their own, as withdrawal from these drugs can be problematic, and in the case of certain CNS depressants, potentially life-threatening. Although no extensive body of research regarding the treatment of Ambien addiction exists, patients addicted to these medications should undergo medically supervised detoxification because the dose must be gradually tapered off. Inpatient or outpatient
counseling can help the individual during this process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also has been used successfully to help individuals adapt to the removal from benzodiazepines.
Often the abuse or addiction of Ambien occurs in conjunction with the abuse of another substance or drug, such as alcohol or cocaine. In these cases of polydrug abuse, the treatment approach must address the multiple addictions.
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