Millions of U.S. adults struggle with sleep difficulties each year. This can lead many people to turn to other solutions, like sleeping pills, to help them get a restful night’s sleep. Although getting quality sleep each night is essential for your physical and mental health and well-being, if you are taking a sleeping pill, it’s important to consider how addictive it is, especially if you are taking a sleeping pill each night. Keep reading to learn more about how addictive sleeping pills are.
At Tikvah Lake, we are a luxury rehab that provides tailored support to help clients safely overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety. Each individual has unique recovery needs. That’s why our drug rehab offers a broad range of treatment options to ensure you receive the best possible care to support your road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about our programs.
What are Sleeping Pills?
First, before diving into how addictive sleeping pills are, it’s important to define what sleeping pills are. There are a wide variety of sleeping pill types, ranging from natural supplements to over-the-counter and prescription pills. Some people may find natural supplements like melatonin to be helpful because they are typically non-addictive and help promote sleep.
Meanwhile, over-the-counter sleeping pills typically contain antihistamines, which work to block your body’s alertness, thus allowing you to fall asleep more effectively. Some prescription sleeping pill medications may contain benzodiazepines, which help raise GABA neurotransmitters in your brain so you can feel more relaxed and fall asleep easier. Therefore, the type of sleeping pill you take (natural, over-the-counter, or prescription) can play a significant role in how addictive the sleeping pill is.
Are Sleeping Pills Addictive?
The type of sleeping pill you take can heavily impact whether the sleeping pill is addictive or not. This is because not all sleeping pills are the same. Each sleeping pill has different ingredients, which can impact how addictive it is. Plus, while all sleeping pills work to help you sleep better, each type of sleeping pill works differently to achieve that outcome.
For example, natural supplements like melatonin supplements are typically not addictive because your body naturally produces melatonin, thus the supplements give your body more melatonin to sleep better. However, with long-term use, it’s critical you talk to your doctor about taking natural sleeping supplements like melatonin on a regular basis.
When it comes to taking over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills, you run a much greater risk of developing an addiction. This is especially true with prescription sleeping pills because many contain benzodiazepines, which can be addictive. Ultimately, while over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills can work to help you sleep better, they shouldn’t be used on a long-term basis. This is why it’s important to talk with your doctor about your sleep issues and what you are taking to ensure you are getting quality sleep.
Help Is Available
Although prescription sleeping pills can help you sleep better, the type of prescription you have may be addictive. This is why it’s so important you talk to your doctor about your prescription sleeping pills and only use them short-term. Natural sleep supplements like melatonin offer a non-addictive way to sleep better. If you suspect you may be struggling with a drug addiction, it’s critical you seek professional support to break free of your addiction.
At Tikvah Lake, we provide tailored addiction treatment services at our luxury residential treatment center. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your recovery journey.
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