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You don't have to continue to suffer under an Ambien addiction. Talk with a Recovery Connection coordinator today and get the right treatment. 1-800-993-3869 Our helpline is open 24/7, all calls are confidential and free of charge. Help is available. You only need to call.
Ambien is one of several central nervous system depressants prescribed for the relief for insomnia. The chemical name for Ambien is zolpidem. Ambien is only approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration for the short-term (2 week) treatment of insomnia.
Ambien is not prescribed in order to deal with difficult feelings, emotions, or pain. Long-term use will not correct the underlying problem that is causing the insomnia, whether it is a medical or psychiatric/psychological problem. It is not a proper treatment for chronic insomnia that is related to medical issues. In these cases, the medical disease should be treated. It also doesn't cure insomnia related to psychiatric or psychological issues. These issues should be treated by a psychiatrist with psychotropic medication, or a therapist through counseling. Ambien is not a cure for insomnia and only helps to manage insomnia as a symptom of another disorder.
Ambien is in the class of drugs known as benzodizepines, a type of sedative-hypnotic medication. This means that the medication will elicit a calming response (sedative effect) as well as induce sleep (hypnotic effect). Ambien is not effective in maintaining sleep, but it is effective in inducing sleep. It has a short half-life, meaning that the drug is promptly eliminated from the body.
It is extremely dangerous to operate machinery or drive while using Ambien. It is not even recommended to leave one's home while using Ambien. A person using Ambien may suddenly awake in a different part of the home, or even in a different part of the city, without remembering how they there. This phenomenon is due to a sleepwalking effect of the medication which can be very dangerous. Sleep driving is also not uncommon, as Ambien also has a profound amnestic effect.
As a central nervous system depressant, the body's responses are slowed when Ambien is ingested. Use of ambien can cause sleepwalking or sleep driving. It is important to take the drug only when you are ready to sleep for an extended period of time. The drug's hypnotic effects can also cause:
In most cases of addiction the potential side effects become even greater. The most common symptoms of Ambien addiction include:
When combined with alcohol, other sedatives, or opioids, Ambien use can be deadly due to cardiorespiratory arrest. In fact, it is not uncommon for those who abuse Ambien to also abuse other benzodiazepines or to use Ambien to "come-down" from stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine. Ambien withdrawal symptoms can occur especially if a tolerance for the drug has developed and the drug is taken throughout the day, rather than just at night before bedtime.
The best course for ambien addiction treatment begins with medical drug detox. In detox, all traces of the drug will be safely removed from your body. As a central nervous system depressant, Ambien's impact upon the brain and bodily functions can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. The National Institute of Drug Addiction recommends that detox be medically supervised and use be gradually diminished in a controlled environment.
Often, people who are addicted to Ambien tend to be poly drug users or alcoholics. Poly drug use also requires close medical monitoring during the detoxification process to address the multiple complications, both physiologic and psychological, that may arise.
Once a medically monitored detox for Ambien has been completed, the user should immediately transition into an addiction treatment program. In a drug rehab, the user will learn about addiction, address issues surrounding use, and learn relapse prevention techniques.
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