The Numerous Signs and Symptoms of Ambien Addiction

Everyone has a night once in a while where they have trouble sleeping, or they toss and turn all night. Most people can deal with the problem and move on, but for others it becomes a recurring issue that often requires medication that helps them fall asleep. One of the most popular of these drugs is Ambien, which is classified as a sedative/hypnotic. Doctors prescribe it for people who occasionally have trouble sleeping, but for many it becomes a problem drug that they end up getting addicted to and abusing. Below are some of the signs and symptoms that you should look for in you or someone you know to know when Ambien is becoming a problem.

Ambien addiction is a bigger problem than many realize, and statistics show that this abuse, and the abuse of other sedatives, is on the rise. In 2008, over 600,000 people abused these types of drugs. In 2006, more than 17,000 visited emergency rooms because of Ambien abuse or overdose.

Ambien does what it's supposed to do when taken as directed. It will make you tired and allow you to get a good night's sleep. When you start taking it more often than you're supposed to, you might start to have some unpleasant side effects, such as fatigue, confusion, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, twitching, and a slowed heart rate. These are some of the initial warning signs that you might be developing a problem with Ambien. Below are some more signs that addiction to the drug could soon be an issue for you:

Taking the Pills Too Quickly

If you have a prescription for 30 days and 30 pills, and you run out before your refill, you could have a problem. Taking more than one pill a night is not a good sign.

Problems at School or Work

Ambien, when abused, leaves you feeling like you are always tired and hung over. This often carries over to school or work, making it hard to focus on projects and often leading to you falling asleep in class. Eventually this can cause your grades to fall and your job to be at risk.

Health Issues

This is really hard for those who do not have a problem with Ambien to judge. The easiest way to figure out if you are having physical or emotional problems due to abuse of the drug is to step back and figure out how you felt before you started taking it. Did you feel better or worse? If you now feel worse, you might have problems. In addition to the symptoms listed above, Ambien can affect your liver function, which leads to general fatigue and soreness all over your body.

Lying to Friends and Family

If family and friends are starting to notice that there's something going on with you, they might have started to ask you questions. Are you lying about how much Ambien you're using? Are you hiding your pills? Are you attempting to buy pills illegally? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might have a problem.

Taking Too Many Pills

If your prescription is disappearing more quickly every time you fill it, then it might be time to honestly evaluate your Ambien use and start calling it abuse. Getting help before it's too late is incredibly important.

If you or someone you love is exhibiting any of the signs or symptoms of Ambien abuse or addiction detailed above, then it might be time to start thinking or talking about treatment options. The most common course of action for Ambien addiction is detox followed by continued inpatient or outpatient treatment and rehab, depending on the severity of the problem.

It's important to remember that just because you have been taking Ambien for a while and have developed a tolerance to the drug, it doesn't mean that you have a problem. Tolerance is not the same thing as addiction. All it means is that your body has gotten used to the effects of Ambien, which in turn means that you need to take more to get the same effect. This being said, Ambien is usually prescribed as a short term solution, so taking it until you start to develop a tolerance could put you in danger of creating an addiction problem. If you fear you are a loved one have a problem, the best thing to do is to seek immediate professional help so that it doesn't become worse.