What Is Ambien?
If you struggle to sleep at night, you would be one of the countless people worldwide that may need sleeping aids to get a restful night of sleep. There are many reasons why people turn to taking Ambien, as it is a sleeping pill meant to reset your body’s natural sleep patterns so you can one day achieve a healthy sleep pattern without taking Ambien. Ambien is an example of a prescription sleep medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration which aids in insomnia treatment. Any person that has ever suffered from a sleep disorder will tell you that when they do not get a good night of sleep, they feel as though they are in a fog the next day. Ambien users can simply take this sleep medication before bedtime so their nervous system can relax and they can fall into a restful night’s sleep. Your doctor will provide medical advice in terms of dosage, and so you can utilize Ambien to fall asleep healthily and peacefully. However, it’s important to remember that this prescription sleep medication is not designed for you to take indefinitely as there are dangers of Ambien to be aware of.
While there are several fantastic benefits associated with taking this type of sleeping pill, including getting a good night’s sleep, there can also be several drawbacks because Ambien is classified as a potentially addictive medication. Even when Ambien users are closely monitored by their doctor, it’s possible they can fall into the trap of Ambien addiction at any time and require addiction and behavioral health treatment.
Serious Side Effects of Ambien
When you initially meet with your doctor, your only concern may be finding ways to fall asleep and feel better both physically and psychologically. However, it would help if you took the time to listen to the severe dangers of Ambien. Ambien’s side effects can impact you in every way possible. You could be working throughout your day and suddenly feel an increase in your heart rate, making it difficult to breathe. There may be other times where you feel sick to your stomach. To address the dangers of Ambien and its serious side effects, your doctor may recommend that you first go through a clinical trial to determine whether or not Ambien’s side effects will negatively impact your life.
Taking Ambien is even more dangerous if you consume it without the direction or approval of a doctor. Unfortunately, there are many people that this happens to every day. When you take this route, you may be completely unaware of the severe side effects of Ambien and put yourself in a potentially fatal situation when you don’t have additional information about this prescription drug.
Physical Side Effects of Ambien
There are several physical side effects of Ambien that a person could experience at any point. For instance, you may experience serious stomach issues or weight loss because you’re sleeping too much. Other physical side effects of Ambien can include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea
- Impaired vision
- Muscle cramps
- Problems breathing
- Disorientation
In all, you may find it challenging to maintain certain aspects of your life and your day. It would be impossible for you to see your work responsibilities if you are being held back by these physical effects. You may also find that your personal relationships are being destroyed because of the negative impact that Ambien is having on your life. Ideally, if these effects are severe, you should be making phone calls to your doctor about them. However, if you have developed an addiction, you may feel less inclined to do so, putting you in a growing problem.
Cognitive Side Effects of Ambien
Remember, the dangers of Ambien not only impact you physically but also affect you psychologically. One of the common complaints and concerns among many people that have an Ambien addiction is memory loss. When your Ambien addiction gets to a certain point, you may suffer from memory loss that spans a sizeable gap of time. For instance, you may be driving to a particular location, and then due to memory loss, the next thing you remember is being home at the end of your day. This can quite obviously come with many severe and potentially deadly side effects.
Taking Ambien can also have other impacts on your overall mental health. For example, there is an increased chance that you could develop a behavioral health disorder such as depression or anxiety. You may find it difficult to concentrate or even experience suicidal thoughts. This is one of the leading reasons why a doctor should closely monitor your Ambien consumption. If you begin to feel this way, you should immediately make phone calls to your health care provider. You can always reach out to a drug and alcohol rehab and talk about what you’re feeling and whether or not you have developed an Ambien addiction need additional help.
Sleepwalking and Other Behaviors on Ambien
The dangers of Ambien include an increased risk of sleepwalking, which could present its own set of issues in your life. When a person is sleepwalking, they are technically still sleeping, but they act as though they are awake in certain ways. You put yourself at increased risk of potentially dangerous behavior that could put you in physical peril.
Ambien Withdrawal Symptoms
Have you noticed that if you miss a dose of Ambien, you begin to experience cravings or other withdrawal symptoms which make it impossible to get on with your day? If so, then it’s unquestionable that you may be struggling with a substance use disorder that requires professional intervention. Some examples of common Ambien withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Stomach cramps
- Extreme drowsiness
- Cravings
- Agitation
- Depression
- Anxiety
You may also feel a plethora of other withdrawal symptoms, which is why you should only ever go through the detox process when you’re under the care of a trained medical professional.
Drug Detox and Rehab for Ambien Addiction
If you find yourself in a position where you have developed an Ambien addiction, you must reach out to an addiction drug and alcohol facility that can provide you with the foundation you need to build a plan and a program to overcome this addiction. The first step in any addiction treatment plan will be to assess whether or not you need to go through detox for your substance use disorder. In most cases, detox will last approximately seven days, and it will ensure that your physical or mental health and well-being aren’t put in severe danger.
You may not realize that once you develop a substance use disorder, your body will begin to go into a tailspin fairly quickly once you no longer maintain that addiction. You may feel a multitude of physical and psychological ailments during this time which would make it all but impossible to care for yourself properly. It’s strongly recommended that you reach out to one of the treatment centers offering drug and alcohol detox programs to ensure you begin your treatment plan on the right foot.
Once you work through the detox process for Ambien addiction, you can begin to focus on the steps you need to take to address the root cause of your addiction. This is conducted by committing to a program through one of the drug and alcohol treatment centers in the area. These treatment centers often offer detox care and rehab options to help you overcome your Ambien addiction.
You will have the opportunity to decide whether you would like to work through inpatient rehab or an outpatient rehab program. Inpatient rehab allows you to live on the Ambien addiction treatment center campus that you select. This type of atmosphere will provide you with a sober environment that you need to truly focus on yourself and your own well-being during this transition time in your life. On the other hand, an outpatient rehab program is more flexible, which means you will maintain full-time or even part-time work or school responsibilities. When you initially reach out to different treatment centers regarding recovery options, you should always ask about the available plans to ensure you make the best choice for yourself.
If you’re ready to overcome your Ambien addiction and focus on your health, the Muse Treatment Center is here to help. Our intake team is available around the clock to ensure that you have the resources that you need to overcome your addiction. For more information on the dangers of Ambien or our addiction treatment programs, please get in touch with us today at (800) 426-1818.
