Sleeping Medication Addiction

Insomnia is a disorder that plagues millions of people in the United States. Characterized by the inability to either fall or stay asleep, this disorder can be treated with medication. The most popular forms of medications used to treat the disorder are sedative hypnotics, such as benzodiazepines, as well as herbal and over-the-counter medications. Patients might become dependent on both types of medications and ultimately, may experience addiction (helpguide.org).

The Benzodiazepines

• Initially, insomnia was treated with sedative hypnotics, or benzodiazepines, also called barbiturates or tranquilizers. These medications include, but are not limited to, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin and a more unique benzodiazepine geared especially toward sleep, Restoril. Although effective, these medications are extremely addictive both physically as well as psychologically (healthcentral.com). Users often feel sedated upon waking and might experience dizziness, depression and lethargy. Although there have been medications classified as "unique" benzos such as Restoril, these too were extremely addictive and users suffered the same drawbacks.

Benzodiazepines and Addiction

• Celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland suffered intense addiction to benzodiazepines. Even though it is common knowledge that these medications could create serious problems for its users, ultimately, people choose to fall asleep and take the risk. Unfortunately, insomniacs who use these medications one night to fall asleep will no doubt have issues falling asleep the next night. The body becomes dependent on these sedatives to relax and fall asleep, making an already difficult task even more difficult for the insomniac.

Healthcare Professionals Make Stricter Guidelines on Benzodiazepams

• The problems with benzodiazepine addiction soon began to have an effect on health care professionals. More doctors refused to prescribe the drugs as they feared their patients would develop a dependency. Insomniacs seemed to have no alleviation from their disorder and many turned to alcohol. Some doctors took a more holistic approach and advised patients to exercise and do deep breathing exercises. Many insomniacs, however, did not want to rely on exercise to fall asleep and soon the sedative hypnotics found a place on the black market as those who became used to them did not want to live without them.

The New "Non-Addictive" Sedative Hypnotics Arrive

• The need for an alternative medication to treat insomnia was evident. More people voiced concerns that not sleeping was effecting their daily lives. Drug manufacturers announced a new type of sedative hypnotic, classified as a "non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic." The first drug released of this type was Ambien. Ambien held claims of quicker sleep than benzodiazepines, the ability to wake up and feel refreshed and, above all, no threat of addiction. Upon its release the drug was a huge success. Although it was expensive, sometimes more than $10 per pill, patients purchased it anyway, hoping the claims were true.

The "Non Addictive" Sedative Hypnotics Prove Otherwise

• Ambien was prescribed more than any other medication in the treatment of insomnia. Patients seemed to love its quick action although, for many, it lost its efficacy after the first couple nights. Ambien is approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia, and if taken on a regularly, loses its ability to help the user fall asleep. This, along with reported incidents of blacking out, soon began to shine a negative light on the drug. Patients quickly formed a psychological dependence to the drug, some for its alleviation of sleeplessness, some for the high it created in users (addictionsearch.com). Lunesta followed a few years after and seemed a replica of Ambien because it shares all the characteristics and side effects.

Sleeping Pill Medication Addicts: An Overview

• Ambien and Lunesta, although not physically addictive, are extremely addictive psychologically. Psychological dependency can be as bad, if not worse, than physical as insomnia places its sufferers in an awake state in bed, leaving them free rein to obsess over not only the inability to fall asleep, but craving the drug that would help them to do so. Insomniacs needed and wanted to fall asleep, usually not caring what they had to do to reach sleep. Ambien and Lunesta were only effective for a few nights at a time and were quite expensive, Over-the-counter medications are basically diphenhydramine hydrochloride or benadryl. Like all sleep medications, these drugs lose their effectiveness over time.

The Future of Sleeping Pill Addiction

• New drugs are created and then years later, found to be addictive, or even worse, detrimental to health. Sleeping pills will no doubt continue to be a huge issue in the medical community. There will no doubt continue to be trials of new drugs meant to treat insomnia without addiction potential. The mere fact that a medication puts its users to sleep is enough to create a dependency (healthcentral.com). Exercise and even diet are being used more to help the insomniac sleep in a more timely manner. Herbal supplements, although less powerful than the benzodiazepines, are becoming more popular, although these drugs can create a psychological dependency for users as well. The quest for sleep remains a strenuous activity for millions and new, more effective, less addictive drugs seem to be few and far between.