Prescription sleeping pills take their toll even while this woman is awake.Almost half of all Americans have sleep problems. Many of these people turn to prescription sleeping pills, medications that can work well for short-term insomnia. But these medications also come with a long list of side effects and other problems that can make your sleeplessness seem minor. Dependence is one of these effects that can destroy your life when all you wanted was a good night’s sleep.

What are Prescription Sleeping Pills and How Do They Help?

Prescribed sleeping pills are in a category of drugs known as “sedative hypnotics.” These medications are effective in helping you go to sleep for a full night’s rest. Some of these drugs are benzodiazepines, known as “benzos,” or barbiturates. There are other types of prescription hypnotics, too.

Sleeping pills prescribed by your doctor may have familiar names that you’ve heard on the street. These drugs include Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Ambien, and Lunesta, among others.

Benzo sleep medications treat anxiety but also work to help people sleep. These are effective for awhile but can lead to problems, making them not a good choice as a long-term sleep solution. Barbiturates can cause fatal overdose, so they require care in use and are also not a good long-term solution for sleeplessness. They work by depressing your central nervous system and sedating you.

Newer sleep drugs make you fall asleep very quickly. These work like benzos but are less likely to lead to addiction. Still, not using these drugs as prescribed leads to physical dependence for many people.

Side Effects of Prescription Sleeping Pills

Like any medication, sleeping pills have negative side effects. One of the most threatening problems of some of these pills is their interference with breathing in people with lung problems, like asthma.

Other side effects of prescription sleeping pills include:

  • Digestive tract problems, such as appetite changes, heartburn, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, and gas
  • Irritating effects like mouth dryness, headache, grogginess the next day, strange dreams and weakness
  • Balance, attention, memory and steadiness problems
  • Dizziness, tingling and burning in limbs, hands or feet
  • Tolerance, dependence, addiction and fatal overdose

One of the scariest side effects of sleeping pills is parasomnia. This condition makes people taking the medication move, behave or act without any control or awareness. Parasomnia may involve eating, talking on the phone and even sleep driving, among other activities.

To avoid having any of the side effects of sleeping pills, you need to be honest with your doctor about your health and use of the medications. You should also avoid taking these pills for the long-term, as you can develop a tolerance that leads to dependence.

You can become physically addicted to sleeping pills. It may only take a few weeks of using them to get to the point of psychological dependence or addiction. This addiction is very hard to break because sobriety involves going through withdrawal, including sleeplessness.

Symptoms of sleeping pill withdrawal appear when you stop taking the pills after addiction has set in. In addition to insomnia, some of these symptoms include:

  • Vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea
  • Seizures, delirium, confusion, and hallucinations
  • Depression, mood problems, and anxiety
  • Drug cravings
  • Body spasms and hand tremors
  • Sweating
  • Increased heart rate

To comfortably get through withdrawal symptoms from prescription sleeping pills and end your addiction through healthy recovery, you will need the help of a quality drug rehab center. Some rehabs have drug treatment programs specializing in prescription sleeping pills. It is just a matter of finding the best program for your individual needs.

In Florida, Put Your Sleeping Problems Behind You

If you have been using prescription sleeping pills and have become addicted to them, Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, Florida can help. At Beaches, you will work through your addiction to gain lasting recovery. This work will include a wide variety of therapies, such as individual counseling, group therapy and holistic programs that include fun activities like hiking, bowling, fitness, art, and music.

For yourself or someone you love, getting help at Beaches Recovery is easy. You only have to take the first step by calling Beaches Recovery at 8666050532. During this call, you will gain the support you need to make lasting changes in your life. So call now.