When taken properly, Ambien is intended to make the user feel relaxed and ready for bed. However, Ambien requires a prescription. This is because the drug can be dangerous. When misused, Ambien can cause dependence and other side effects. Below are a few things you should know about Ambien and Ambien addiction. For more information, contact our NJ detox centers today.
Side Effects
A common side effect of Ambien use is what doctors refer to as paradoxical excitation. This is when an individual exhibits unusual behavior while using the drug, and is unaware of his or her actions. Ambien comes with many other physical side effects including, drowsiness, tremors, headaches, loss of appetite, and much more.
Long-Term Effects
The most dangerous long-term effect of Ambien is developing tolerance to the medication. If you change your dosage without speaking to your doctor, or you take the drug for more than 30 days, you run the risk of increasing your tolerance. This can lead to you needing more and more of the drug to feel the same effects that you had when you first started taking it.
Dependence
When you continuously take Ambien, you can eventually become addicted and dependant on the drug. Eventually leaving you unable to function without it. This can be extremely problematic as substance dependence often interferes with everyday life. Some of the symptoms and effects of Ambien dependence and addiction include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Job loss
- Headaches
- Muscular pain
- Loss of appetite
- Increased anxiety
- Isolation from loved ones
- Problems with digestion
- Financial trouble due to drug use habits
- Using more Ambien than recommended
After a person abuses Ambien for a while, it’s possible that he or she will experience very intense effects, including sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares, hallucinations, and depression. Some individuals experience a state of confusion as a result of Ambien use.
Unfortunately, many individuals also deal with suicidal thoughts because of the effects of the drug. Some may even attempt to end their lives. So, it’s extremely important for each individual who struggles with Ambien dependence and addiction to get professional help right away. A drug detox program can help to end substance abuse. Then, therapy and treatment can help individuals to continue recovering from drug addiction.
Identifying More Serious Effects of Ambien Abuse
Many individuals who have become dependent on or addicted to Ambien have found that it’s very difficult to stop using the drug. Once the body develops an Ambien dependence problem, the effects can be extremely intense.
This drug can produce euphoria, which is a pleasurable feeling that many drugs offer to those who use them. This state of euphoria is often one of the causes of continued drug abuse and, ultimately, addiction.
But, some individuals mix Ambien with other substances, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, in order to increase the euphoric effects of the drug. Not only is this dangerous, but it can also prove to be deadly to those who consume this mixture. Mixing benzos and Ambien is especially harmful because of the nature of both drug types.
Both of these substances depress the body’s central nervous system (CNS). So, combining the two can cause many issues, including slowed breathing. Since they both slow a person’s breathing rate, they can actually cause a reaction that actually stops the person from breathing. Individuals who mix Ambien with benzos or alcohol are at risk for overdose or even death.
Ambien is a sedative drug so, as you might imagine, it causes users to become rather sedated and can cause individuals to have delayed responses and reflexes. Many individuals show signs of impaired judgment and disorientation. All of these effects can lead individuals to engage in dangerous or harmful activities.
These activities could include driving under the influence of Ambien, having unprotected sex, uncontrollable drinking, and even violent behavior and aggression.
Those who use this drug before going to sleep may experience episodes of sleepwalking. Ambien has also been known to cause people to perform many other activities while unconscious, including driving, engaging in sexual activity, speaking to other people, and even eating.
In most cases, if not all, individuals have no memory of the behaviors and activities they carried out while unconscious. These moments of unconscious activity are known as episodes of parasomnia.
When a person sleepwalks under the influence of Ambien, he or she may be put in danger. Many individuals have walked out of their homes while asleep. Some have gotten into their cars and begin driving. This can, of course, be very dangerous for the individual and all others on the road.
Since the effects of Ambien abuse can be so intense, it’s important to end addiction immediately. It’s important, however, to end substance use with the help of professionals since Ambien withdrawal symptoms are serious.
Common Ambien Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal is never easy when a person has been dependent on drugs or alcohol. Ambien withdrawal is no exception. Some of the symptoms people may experience after ending Ambien abuse might include the following:
- Fever
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Agitation
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Lack of sleep
- Muscle cramps
- Stomach cramps
- High blood pressure
- Excessive sweating
Many individuals experience excessive and uncontrollable crying while withdrawing from Ambien use. Some deal with intense symptoms such as convulsions and panic attacks.
The severity of these symptoms makes professional detox programs all the more important for those who wish to end substance abuse in their lives.
NJ Detox Centers
Ambien dependence and addiction are very serious problems. So, those who are suffering from any of these problems should seek help immediately in order to end the effects of Ambien misuse in their lives.
Thankfully, there is help for each one who is suffering. Recovery may be challenging but the good news is that recovery is possible!
So, if you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse or other substances, contact the Discovery Institute. Through supervised medical detox and proven treatment programs, we can help you get back to a drug-free life. Achieve the life you deserve today.
Dr. Joseph Ranieri D.O. earned his BS in Pharmacy at Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1981 and His Doctorate Degree in Osteopathic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1991. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine Addiction Certification. Dr. Ranieri has lectured extensively to physicians, nurses, counselors and laypeople about the Disease of Addiction throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 2012.
