However, that may not keep some people from abusing these sedatives. Sleeping pills are medications that are used to alleviate symptoms such as insomnia, nighttime restlessness, depression, or anxiety. They work by interacting with certain neurotransmitters in the brain and suppressing the nervous system. Some sleeping pills are highly addictive and can cause tolerance and dependence. Sedative-hypnotic sleeping pills are not recommended for long-term use, as they can actually start to hinder sleep if they are used regularly for an extended period of time or cause withdrawal if a person suddenly tries to stop using them.
Sleeping pills can also cause negative side effects, even if they are used as directed. For example, sleeping pills can sometimes make people feel tired, drowsy, or groggy during the day. They can also cause:. Taking too many sleeping pills at once or taking sleeping pills and alcohol simultaneously can cause a deadly overdose.
Many sleeping pill overdose deaths may be accidental, but some are intentional suicides. If a person becomes severely depressed, he or she may abuse sleeping pills with other drugs to intentionally overdose.
In , 47, Americans died by suicide and Alternatively, not all sleeping pill overdoses result in death. Many drug overdoses cause brain damage or physical injury that can leave a person dealing with painful side effects for hours or indefinitely.
Although the sleeping pills prescribed today are safer than some of the ones previously prescribed in the past, there is still a risk of overdose with very high doses of drugs like Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta, among others. If someone becomes addicted, he or she may have cravings for sleeping pills, be unable to ever fall asleep without them, take larger or more frequent doses than necessary, or keep taking sleeping pills despite the negative consequences.
As sedatives work by depressing the central nervous system, the overuse of the drugs can slow body functions to such a degree as to cause unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and death. An overdose may be deliberate with the aim of committing suicide. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Sedatives are commonly used to this end because they are perceived to cause no pain. However, not all suicide attempts succeed as vomiting is common when the drug is taken in excess.
If this happens, the person may survive but end up with brain damage due to the lack of oxygen. By contrast, an accidental overdose can occur if the user takes too much of a sedative or combines it with other drugs the enhance the depressive effects. Signs of an overdose of sedatives are similar to those of alcohol, which is also a depressant. Slowing the brain function initially affects the parts of the body which control voluntary functions.
People who have overdosed on sedatives will be admitted to the hospital and monitored closely, usually in intensive care.
Approximately one in four overdose deaths occur after a person has been admitted. Treatment may involve some or all of the following:. Generally speaking, people can recover from a sedative overdose if treatment is started early. Unless a person has experienced prolonged oxygen deprivation, the effects of the overdose tend to last only as long as the drug remains in the system. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Parasomnias are involuntary actions during sleep, which you are not aware of and do not remember.
This includes the potential for sleepwalking, sleep driving, sleep eating, and other actions. A sleeping pill overdose is more likely to occur when other substances are present. Whether OTC or prescription, it is possible to intentionally overdose. It is even possible for some people to unintentionally take too much and this becomes even more dangerous if they use other substances.
Mixing substances, also known as polysubstance abuse, heightens the effects drugs have on one another. As most sleeping pills have sedative effects, mixing with other sedatives is particularly dangerous. With polysubstance abuse, alcohol is most commonly one of the substances involved. Because alcohol use is widespread and socially acceptable, few realize the dangers it presents alone as well as with other substances.
Possible side effects of sedatives include slowed breathing, lowered heart rate, and impaired cognitive function. Increasing the amount of sedatives used presents a dangerous risk for anyone with the possibility of overdose, coma, and death. Unfortunately, many miss when an overdose is occurring — especially with sleeping pills.
The purpose of a sleeping pill is to sedate someone and allow them to sleep. While sedatives slow breathing, it is important to watch out for any irregular breathing patterns if possible. If an overdose is suspected always call emergency services immediately. Receiving care as soon as possible is critical. Many people begin to use prescription sleeping pills to help guarantee necessary sleep.
Others possibly acquire it illegally, in particular young people use it to experiment. Generally, sleeping pill prescriptions are best for short-term use. Long-term use increases the risk of dependence and addiction.
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