The side effects of Ambien abuse are numerous and can be pretty severe. They include (but are not limited to):

• Amnesia
• Depression
• Nervousness
• Daytime sleeping
• Lack of bladder control
• Numbness
• Lack of coordination
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Migraines

Detox is an important and crucial step in the rehab process.  A popular misconception about detox is that it can be done safely and successfully by the user in his/her own home. This is extremely dangerous because when you undergo a detox, Ambien is cleansed from your system. Because your body is used to high levels of the drug, you will typically have a period of withdrawal.

Ambien Withdrawal Symptoms

Some Ambien withdrawal symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Nausea
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Panic attacks
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Strange behavior

These symptoms make detox difficult and dangerous to try alone. In rare cases, addicts have died in an attempt to go “cold turkey” with no medical advice or support. Therefore, detox should always be undergone with the help of a treatment center or a doctor. As opposed to simply cutting you off from Ambien entirely, a doctor will gradually taper the dose so that your withdrawal symptoms will be less severe. Depending on your level of addiction and the amount of time that you have used the drug, they could be very mild.

During detox and after the process has been completed, it is essential to have a supportive group of family and friends to turn to. Yet, even if you feel like you are alone and don’t know who to turn to, there are options for you. There are various support groups to help you get through the recovery process.

How to Find an Ambien Detox Center

The internet is a wealth of information on the subject of detox centers. There are hundreds that have informative and helpful websites. Ask your doctor to recommend a good one for you and do some browsing yourself. Call us today for recommendations and suggestions for the right treatment option for you.

Detox is just the first step on the road to recovery and very few, if any, drug users find themselves sober after just detox. Though you may feel cured after you complete this step, do not be tempted to leave your treatment facility or to shrug off other methods of treatment. They are important to ensure that you do not relapse in the future.

Treatment Help for Ambien Abuse

If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction to Ambien and don’t know what to do, call our toll free number. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and to help you get the information you need. Let us help you start on the road to recovery. Call us today.

Symptoms of Addiction

• Inability to sleep without use of drug, even when in need of sleep
• Mood swings (depression when going without the drug)
• Serious memory loss of previous night’s occurrences
• Odd hours kept (long periods of sleep and then long periods of activity)
• Obvious addictive behavior (i.e. use of illegal means to obtain Ambien)

If an individual has to use Ambien for a long time, there is always the possibility they will become dependent. However, if you have been taking Ambien for a long period of time, don’t stop taking it abruptly. Cutting off your use of the drug can initiate seizures for anyone who has become dependent on the drug. Talk to your doctor if you fear you have become dependent on Ambien and ask for the best method to get rid of your dependency.

If an individual has decided to combat their Ambien addiction, they should take time to research all the different detox and rehabilitation programs that they can find. When making a decision, they should be certain that their program addresses both the physical and mental addiction issues. If a program fails to address the mental issues of addiction, it passes over a danger equal to that of the physical addiction. This will certainly hurt the addict in the long run.

Importance of Loved Ones

If a friend or family member really wants to help an individual who is addicted to Ambien, they need to be prepared to help them in any way that they can. Something as little as being available to talk and checking up on the individual will go a long way to helping that person recover from their addiction. It can only help an addict to know that he or she has other people counting on them to recover and to regain their life.

Ambien Addiction Help

Are you struggling with and Ambien addiction? Our counselors are available 24 hours a day and would love to help you. You can beat your addiction. Call our toll free number now.

Ambien is only recommended for short-term use until a person’s natural sleep cycle allows them to get a full night’s sleep.

Insomnia Types

Insomnia types are often based on how long the insomnia lasts and how often it occurs. These types include:

• Acute insomnia is short-term, lasting up to two weeks. It is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort and can be related to a single specific event.
• Transient insomnia comes periodically and happens when a person experiences phases of good sleep followed by a period of insomnia.
• Chronic insomnia happens when a person experiences difficulty sleeping for a month or longer.

Ambien Side Effects

Research studies show that there is a relationship between the number and severity of side effects and the dosage of Ambien used. Therefore, it is recommended that a person take the smallest amount of Ambien to achieve the results of getting a full night’s sleep. Regardless of what dosage one is taking, there are possible side effects. Some of them include the following:

• Hallucinations, through all physical senses, of varying intensity
• Delusions- a false belief strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence, especially as a symptom of mental illness
• Euphoria and/or dysphoria (the opposite of euphoria)
• Impaired judgment and reasoning
• Uninhibited extroversion in social or interpersonal settings
• Increased impulsivity
• When stopped, rebound insomnia may occur
• Poor motor coordination, difficulty maintaining balance
• Decreased libido
• Increased appetite
• Anterograde amnesia- loss of memory for events immediately following a trauma

Ambien Withdrawal Symptoms

If a person experiences any of the side effects associated with Ambien use, it is appropriate to consider discontinuing the use of Ambien. However, it is not recommended that you simply stop taking the drug because you may experience any of the following withdrawal symptoms:

• Sweating
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Stomach cramps
• Panic attack
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Seizures

Get Help for Ambien Abuse

If you or someone you know is addicted to Ambien, call our toll free number today at (888) 371-5716. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about Ambien addiction treatment. We are here to help.

During this process, the addict rids the body of all the chemicals and toxins from the drugs. It is physically straining because the body suffers withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are the reason detox is so difficult and often unsuccessful. Many users are unable to get through the process on their own and end up going straight back to drugs. Some symptoms of withdrawal that Ambien addicts will experience include:

• Behavior changes
• Stomach pain
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Tremors
• Seizures-in severe cases

Once the detoxification process is complete, it is essential for the former addict to continue treatment by going to counseling sessions. These sessions help with coping techniques for re-entry into society. Without continuing treatment, the rate for relapse is quite high.

Ambien Dependency

Ambien is a highly dependent drug. Drug dependency is when a user feels as though they physically need to take the drug in order to function despite its negative and sometimes dangerous effects. Many patients may become addicted to Ambien accidentally by misreading or abusing their prescription. It is also easy for teenagers to obtain because many parents do not properly store their prescription medication.

When Ambien is not taken as prescribed, the user may become addicted to the drug because their bodies become dependent on the drug. Once addicted to the drug, the user will have to go through treatment in order to be independent of the drug.

Ambien Facts

Ambien provides short-term relief for patients with insomnia, a disorder that causes the person to be unable to fall asleep. Ambien is classified as a sedative or hypnotic, so it is important to be able to devote seven to eight hours of sleep before taking Ambien because it will cause the patient to fall asleep.

Ambien works by affecting chemicals in the brain that have become unbalanced, causing the person to have sleep problems. It is important to only take the dosage that the doctor prescribes for as long as the doctor prescribes because Ambien can become highly addictive. Typically, Ambien is not prescribed for longer than four to five weeks.

After the certain amount of time, it is important to discontinue use properly or else withdrawal symptoms may occur. In some cases, the insomnia worsens when the patient stops taking Ambien. It is important to keep Ambien away from children and those with a history of drug abuse. Keep all medications in a locked cabinet and dispose of all unused prescriptions properly. The federal government suggests that unused prescription medication should be flushed down the toilet if clearly labeled. Otherwise, crush them and mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter.

Ambien Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one is addicted to Ambien, it is important to seek help. Ambien is a highly dependent drug. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. If you are interested in receiving information on Ambien detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5716. We’re here to help.

Ambien (generic name: Zolpidem) belongs to a class of medicines that effects the central nervous system called sedative hypnotics. Ambien is closely related to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, act as anti-convulsants (anti-seizure), and have anti-anxiety properties. Ambien has selectivity in that it has little of the muscle relaxant or anti-seizure effect and more of the sedative effect. Therefore, it is used as a medication for sleep.

People experiencing an overdose may become excessively sleepy or even go into a light coma. The symptoms of an Ambien overdose are more severe if the person is also taking other drugs that depress the central nervous system. Some cases of multiple drug overdoses have been fatal. When abused, Ambien tablets are taken orally, crushed and then snorted, or dissolved in water and “cooked” for intravenous injection.

What are the Symptoms of Ambien Overdose?

People who take too much Ambien may become excessively drowsy or even slip into a light coma. The symptoms of overdose are more severe if the person is also taking other central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs and can prove fatal. In rare cases, loss of life has been reported in people who took an Ambien overdose. These cases have involved overdoses on several medications, including Ambien.

If a person overdoses on Ambien, the symptoms can vary. Some reported symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Excessive tiredness
• Light coma
• Heart failure
• Lung failure
• Clumsiness
• Confusion
• Difficult or slow breathing
• Dizziness
• Severe nausea or vomiting
• Slowed heart rate
• Staggering
• Unconsciousness

Ambien Risk Factors

Use extreme caution when using Ambien if you have the following risk factors. These cautions put you at a great risk for overdosing:

• Alcohol abuse or drug abuse(or history of)
• Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis or other chronic lung disease
• Mental depression
• Sleep apnea
• Kidney or liver disease

Ambien and the Elderly

One of the segments of the population that is susceptible to Ambien overdose is the elderly. In fact, the recommended dosage for the elderly and disabled is 6.25 milligrams (mg); about half the recommended dose for other adults. Even with this reduced dosage, the elderly are at risk for several side effects as identified by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Motor impairments - trouble standing or walking the following day after taking the drug
• Central nervous system side effects – a pattern of dizziness while lying down and when getting up in the morning. Headaches are another common side effect, while other seniors experienced heart palpitations, impaired vision and upper respiratory infections.
• Cognitive side effects – trouble with memory, speech or other mental functions. For seniors who suffer from depression, Ambien can deepen the sadness and increase the depression. They may begin to have suicidal thoughts.
• Emotional or mental issues – common in elderly patients; includes aggravation and increasingly aggressive behavior
• Other side effects – frequent dry mouth, back pain, abnormal thirst and nausea. Some people in the research study experienced diarrhea, hiccupping and high blood sugar.

As is true for any person taking Ambien, it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol, that you allocate seven to nine hours to sleep after taking Ambien and that you do not engage in any other activity after taking the drug. In addition, there are several medications including antidepressants, anxiety medications and antibiotics that a person should not take in conjunction with Ambien.
As the elderly are typically taking more medications that the rest of the population, extreme caution should be exercised so that the senior does not inadvertently overdose.

Treating an Overdose of Ambien

The treatment for an Ambien overdose will vary. If the overdose was recent, the healthcare provider may give certain medicines or place a tube into the stomach to “pump the stomach.” However, once it has been absorbed into the body, there is no treatment that can remove it quickly. Therefore, in these cases, treatment involves supportive care, which consists of treating the symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose. Treatment for an Ambien overdose also involves closely monitoring the heart and lungs.

Ambien Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you know is struggling with an Ambien addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5716. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions on ambien addiction and treatment.

Since Ambien is a prescription medication, it may be difficult to determine if someone has actually formed an addiction. While the signs are not as clear as in illegal drug addiction, there are certain things one can look for. Ambien addiction is probably most clearly defined by the withdrawal symptoms one experiences if he/she goes too long without it. Other signs of needed Ambien treatment are that more of the drug is being taken than needed, having prescriptions refilled early or consistently because of over use, and having to take higher doses of the Ambien to achieve its initial effects. Essentially this means that a tolerance has developed. If any of these symptoms fit this means abuse of Ambien is taking place or an addiction to it has formed.

Ambien Withdrawal Symptoms

When a person is addicted to a medicine, if the medicine is stopped, the body is not able to function properly and withdrawal symptom can occur. Some Ambien withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Sweating
• Abnormal aggression
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Stomach cramps
• Panic attacks

Dangers of Ambien Addiction

Addiction to Ambien can be deadly. It can enhance suicidal tendencies, and risk of overdose is higher among people with depression. Too much of it can cause excessive drowsiness, even coma. Even at therapeutic dosages, it can cause some people to “sleep-drive” or engage in other complex behaviors while not fully awake, putting themselves and others at risk. Most have no memory of the episode afterward.

In cases where the drug is not deliberately crushed and snorted or abused with alcohol, Ambien dependence generally occurs when it is taken for longer than the recommended time period (10 days), or in greater dosages than recommended (5-10 mg). Users find they cannot go to sleep without it or begin to crave the euphoria brought on as the drug begins to act upon the central nervous system.

When these problems occur, people often feel like they need to stay on their medicines just to prevent these symptoms from occurring again. Usually the symptoms of Ambien withdrawal are not life-threatening but are generally so unpleasant that it is difficult not to give in to the cravings to make them stop. If a user is increasing doses of Ambien or feels like he/she cannot stop the medicine, he/she may need to talk to a healthcare provider. An addiction to Ambien is a serious problem that requires treatment.

Ambien Addiction Treatment

Treatment for Ambien addiction is therefore the province of medical professionals, who can manage the withdrawal and ease the addict off the drug in a manner that does not lead to further abuse. Treatment depends upon the severity of the abuse. Sometimes inpatient care in a detoxification center or another addiction treatment program is required. Supervision by a qualified physician is necessary both to manage physical symptoms and to provide counseling and support for any emotional dependency which has developed. Users should seek help immediately if they encounter difficulties stopping an Ambien regimen.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an Ambien addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5716. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions on Ambien addiction and treatment.

• Hives

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat

Serious side effects include:

• Depressed mood (thoughts of hurting yourself)
• Unusual thoughts (risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger)
• Anxiety
• Aggression
• Feeling restless or agitated
• Hallucinations (confusion, loss of personality or memory)
• Fast pounding heartbeat
• Chest pain

Less serious Ambien side effects may include:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Feeling “drugged” or light-headed
• Lack of coordination
• Amnesia, forgetfulness
• Vivid or abnormal dreams
• Nausea and/or constipation
• Stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Blurred vision

Some of these rare yet possible Ambien side effects include, but are not limited to:

• Amnesia
• Sleepwalking
• Impotence (also known as erectile dysfunction, or ED)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Constipation

Remember that a doctor can prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to an individual is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Rarely, after taking this drug, people have gotten out of bed and driven vehicles while not fully awake (“sleep-driving”). People have also sleepwalked, prepared/eaten food, made phone calls, or had intercourse while not fully awake. Often, these people do not remember these events. This problem can be dangerous to them or to others. It’s important to notify a medical professional if any of these activities occur. The risk is increased if alcohol or other medications that can make you drowsy while taking zolpidem is consumed.

Management of Side Effects

To manage these side effects while you are taking this medicine keep the following things in mind:

• When someone first starts taking Ambien or any other sleep medicine, until he/she knows whether the medicine will still have some carryover effect the next day, they must use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness, such as driving a car, operating machinery or piloting an aircraft.
• Drinking alcohol is prohibited while being treated with Ambien or any sleep medicine. Alcohol can increase the side effects of using sleep aid supplements.
• Do not take any other medicines without asking a healthcare professional first. This includes medicines that can be bought without a prescription. Some medicines can cause drowsiness and are best avoided while taking Ambien CR.
• Always take the exact dose of Ambien prescribed by the healthcare professional. Never change the dose without talking to a healthcare professional first. The tablet must be swallowed whole and not divided crushed or chewed.
• In two clinical studies of patients with insomnia, a rebound effect was only observed on the first night after an abrupt discontinuation of Ambien CR. On the second night, there was no worsening of insomnia.

Ambien Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you know is struggling with an Ambien addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5716. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions on Ambien addiction and treatment.