At Home Sleeping Pill Detox

Sleeping pill addiction is a growing problem. GP’s, with the best intentions, prescribe these for patients who simply can not get to sleep. The problem is, the longer you use them: The more you need and the less effective they become. An at home sleeping pill detox is possible but not always advisable.

Simply stopping them will just make the problem worse. It is nothing to do with a lack of willpower, but science. When you take sleeping pills you change your brain chemistry. You simply can not override structural changes in the brain by drinking water, going for a sauna or meditating. These things will help but science overrides everything.

If you need Free Clinician Drug Advice, a Free Rehab Referral Service call and speak, without charge, to an experienced addictions clinician at Find Me a Rehab. Our clinicians have worked in the majority of the UK’s rehab centres, private hospitals, statutory services, NHS provisions and prisons. We are impartial and will guide you in the right direction.

At Home Sleeping Pill Detox

What is Sleeping Pill Addiction?

There are various types of sleeping pills. Most are benzodiazepine based or cyclopyrrolones. They are very similar and both highly addictive. Hard pressed GP’s are not as likely to prescribe them as they once did as they are under scrutiny from their service commissioners.

All NHS GP practices are private companies, contracted by commissioners to provide NHS care. With the advent of electronic records and prescribing, trends are monitored and GP’s are under pressure to review and reduce long term prescribing of certain medications, especially sleeping pills.

For short term use, sleeping pills are very effective. The problem is, they are only designed to be used for a fortnight or so. If you keep taking them, their effectiveness becomes significantly reduced.

Sleeping pills , just as with other medications, alcohol and drugs, work on receptors on the brain: Either to open or close chemical channels. After a time, the receptors will become used to their presence and adjust. If you suddenly stop , the brain will be left in a state of flux. While some of the symptoms will resolve themselves in a few days, some are more serious and can include:

• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Tremors

Sadly, without medical attention, seizures can cause brain damage and, in some cases: Fatality.

At Home Sleeping Pill Detox

What Are The Common Signs of Sleeping Pill Addiction?

• Rebound insomnia: Because your brain is struggling to adjust, chemical signalling is displaced and, as such, you will find sleep incredibly difficult to achieve. Even if you do get to sleep, you will find yourself waking up early. Not being able to sleep leaves you very tired during the day which causes a multitude of problems.
• Anxiety and irritability: As neurotransmitter activity is disrupted you will become far more sensitive to stress and your emotional responses will be very difficult to regulate. As such you will overreact to minor situations. Your thoughts will race and you will find it impossible to relax.
• Muscle Pain: Headaches, jaw pain and muscle ache are also common.
• Stomach problems: Persistent toilet trouble, vomiting and cramping are often experienced in sleeping pill withdrawal. Chronic nausea is also common.
• Memory problems: One of the most distressing aspect of sleeping pill withdrawal are problems with memory. Lack of focus, memory lapses and inability to process information is not unusual.
• Mood disturbances: Fast onset depression, rapid mood swings, and emotional instability are part of the withdrawal experience. It is also usual to feel helpless which can be very debilitating.
• Additional side effects: Heavy sweating, feeling tired all the time and chest pain can be a very intense aspect of sleeping pill withdrawal.

How Long Do the Withdrawals Last?

How long you will experience withdrawals for depends on a number of factors including what you are taking and how long you have been taking them for. Some of the symptoms can last for days, some for weeks and others: months. In essence there are three phases of sleeping pill withdrawal:

Initial phase: Within 24-72 hours you are likely to experience very intense cravings as well as anxiety and your insomnia will return. Muscle aches will start as will stomach upset. Your memory will start to cause problems.

• Peak phase: From about day four to the end of the first two weeks without sleeping pills, the symptoms will reach their peak. Aside from those in the peak phase, you will also experience uncontrollable anxiety, rapid onset depression and continued inability to sleep.
• Resolution phase: At this point your brain is starting to adjust so the physical signs should start to subside. Unfortunately, the psychological symptoms may continue for many months.

If you need Free Clinician Drug Advice, a Free Rehab Referral Service call and speak, without charge, to an experienced addictions clinician at Find Me a Rehab. Our clinicians have worked in the majority of the UK’s rehab centres, private hospitals, statutory services, NHS provisions and prisons. We are impartial and will guide you in the right direction.

What Does Home Sleeping Pill Treatment Involve?

The only effective way to stop sleeping pill addiction is a slow reduction, in conjunction with your GP (or the doctor prescribing them) and then to go into rehab when you get to the lowest dose. However, we understand that some people will not want to do this. While we always recommend residential treatment, in some cases, it is possible to have treatment at home.

For those having treatment at home, your addictions clinician will need to confirm your current prescription (you can get a medical summary from your GP, without charge and without having to say why you need it). Home treatment will always be proactive and planned in advance. It is not possible to arrange home treatment if you stop suddenly: This would be very dangerous.

The treatment plan would be a collaborative arrangement as to when you are going to reduce further and when you are going to stop. You will need careful monitoring and this can be a nurse of trained support worker coming to stay with you, or at least visit you several times a day for the first few days. You will also need an adult to be at home with you:24/7 , at least for the first 5-7 days.

A therapist will also be involved and sessions can be undertaken online or in person. Online groups are also part of the process. Underlying trauma, strained relationships, stress management: All vital elements to be worked through. Relapse prevention is also a cornerstone of recovery.

At Home Sleeping Pill Detox

Is it Lower Cost to Have Treatment at Home?

In a word? No! When you add up the cost of your addictions clinician, prescriptions and private prescription dispensing fee, as well as the therapists and at home nursing support it becomes very expensive. There are centres that provide a full detox and rehab service for about £1,650 a week. For this you get the services of an addictions clinician, nursing and therapy staff, 24 hour support staff, restaurant quality food, housekeeping, etc.

Why is Treatment at Home an Increased Risk?

Even with the best intentions, your family and friends are not equipped to provide the care you need. You will experience cravings and , with the boom in online pharmacies, there is little to prevent you buying pills online. The problem is you have no idea that what you are buying is what you order.

As soon as you stop taking sleeping pills, your brain looses it’s tolerance meaning if you start taking them again, they will have a much stronger effect. As you will try and correct the balance, you may be prone to taking more than you normally did. This can lead to accidental overdose. Sadly, this can be fatal.

At Home Sleeping Pill Detox

How Can Find Me a Rehab Help?

We are a collection of experienced addictions clinicians who, in addition to our day jobs, provide free and impartial advice to anyone who is concerned about drug or alcohol addiction: Theirs or someone else’s. We never charge for initial consultations or for referrals to rehab centres. Whoever is free will answer the call or read your email (in total confidence).

If you need Free Clinician Drug Advice, a Free Rehab Referral Service call and speak, without charge, to an experienced addictions clinician at Find Me a Rehab. Our clinicians have worked in the majority of the UK’s rehab centres, private hospitals, statutory services, NHS provisions and prisons. We are impartial and will guide you in the right direction.

Recent Posts