Sedative addiction

What are sedatives?

Sedatives are substances that make you feel calm or sleepy. They are often prescribed to help people relax, reduce anxiety or manage sleep disorders like insomnia.

Sedatives work by affecting your brain and nervous system. While each type of sedative works slightly differently, they are usually designed to slow down brain activity, which helps you feel more calm or sleepy.

While sedatives can be very helpful, they also come with various sedative side effects, especially if not used correctly. Some common sedative side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Coordination problems
• Dependency and addiction

What are the types of sedatives?

In the UK, there are both prescription and over-the-counter sedatives that are available for various conditions. Some of the most used include:

Benzodiazepines

These are some of the most well-known sedatives. They are often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia and muscle relaxation and include diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan) and alprazolam (Xanax).

Z-drugs

These are newer medications that are often prescribed for sleep disorders because they are considered to have fewer side effects than benzodiazepine and other older sedatives. They include zolpidem (Ambien), zopiclone (Lunesta) and zaleplon (Sonata).

Antihistamines

Some antihistamines, typically used for allergies, can also cause drowsiness, so they are sometimes used as over-the-counter sleep aids. In the UK, the most popular is diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

What is sedative addiction?

Sedative addiction means feeling out of control with your sedative use, even if you want to stop or if sedatives are causing problems. An addiction to sedatives can sneak up on you but can then quickly turn into a serious problem.

Sedative addiction usually begins with a good reason, like a prescription for anxiety or sleep problems. At first, the sedative works great, and you feel better, so you start taking it more regularly.

Over time, your body gets used to sedatives, so you need more to have the same calming or sleepy effect. At this point, your body can start to feel like it needs the sedatives to function normally, and if you try to stop taking them, you might start feeling sick or really anxious. These are common sedative withdrawal symptoms, and they are signs that you have become physically dependent on the drugs.

However, drug addiction is more than just a physical dependency; it is a mental and emotional prison, too. With constant use, you can begin to feel like you can’t sleep, handle stress or even cope with everyday life without the sedatives and giving up can become very, very difficult.

Some factors that may make you more likely to develop a sedative addiction include:

• Using sedatives to manage stress, trauma or a mental health issue
• Coming from a family affected by addiction
• Not having a strong support system
• Being able to get sedatives easily
• Misunderstanding the dangers of sedative abuse

Am I addicted to sedatives?

One of the biggest problems with prescription drug addiction is that you may not realise it is happening until it’s too late. Here are ten questions you can ask yourself to figure out if you might be addicted to sedatives:

1. Do I feel like I need sedatives just to get through the day?
2. Do I feel like my life revolves around sedatives and getting more of them?
3. Have I been taking more sedatives lately to get the same effect?
4. Have I tried to cut back or stop taking sedatives, but couldn’t?
5. Do I take sedatives even when I know it’s causing school, work or relationship problems?
6. Have I ever lied to friends or family about how much I’m using sedatives?
7. Do I feel guilty or ashamed about my sedative use?
8. Have I got sedatives from more than one doctor or pharmacy to get enough?
9. Have I mixed sedatives with alcohol or other drugs to enhance the effects?
10. Do I get defensive or angry when someone talks to me about my sedative use?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it might be time to talk to a healthcare professional about your sedative use.

The dangers of sedative abuse and addiction

Sedative abuse and addiction are not just dangerous for your health but can also cause major problems in your personal life. Some of the possible consequences you need to be aware of include:

Health risks

• Sedative overdose: Taking too many sedatives can slow down your breathing and heart rate so much that it becomes life-threatening. This can lead to coma or even death if you don’t get medical help.
• Memory problems: Sedative abuse can affect your memory, making it hard to remember things or even causing memory loss.
• Coordination issues: Chronic abuse can make just moving around difficult without stumbling or feeling dizzy, and this can cause accidents and injuries.
• Sedative withdrawal symptoms: If you try to stop taking sedatives suddenly, you might feel very sick, anxious or even experience seizures. This is because your body has become dependent on sedatives and reacts badly to them being taken away.

Personal risks

• Mood swings: You may experience sudden changes in your mood, feeling happy one moment and very sad or angry the next.
• Relationships: Your relationships with family and friends can suffer because of your sedative use. You may become distant, unreliable or even dishonest with those you care about.
• School and work: Sedative abuse can affect your performance at school or work as you may have trouble concentrating, miss important deadlines or even lose your job.
• Legal ramifications: Using prescription sedatives without a prescription is illegal, and you could get into serious trouble, including fines or prison sentences.
• Financial problems: Buying sedatives, especially if you are getting them illegally, can be very expensive. This can lead to financial stress for you, your partner and your children.

Treatment for sedative addiction

Treating sedative addiction involves three steps, all of which are equally important: sedative addiction detox, rehab and relapse prevention planning:

Sedative detox

Sedative detox is the first step in quitting sedatives as it safely clears your body of the drugs. Instead of stopping all at once, your drug detox team will usually help you slowly reduce the amount of sedatives you are taking to minimise sedative withdrawal symptoms.

Sedative rehab treatment

Drug rehab is when you learn how to live without sedatives. During sedative rehab treatment, you will take part in individual and group therapy sessions, which will help you figure out why you have become reliant on sedatives and alternative ways to handle the problems in your life.

Relapse prevention planning

Relapse prevention focuses on staying off sedatives for good. This involves knowing how to avoid or manage your triggers, taking part in ongoing therapy and getting support from your friends, family and recovery peers.

Get help for sedative addiction today

If you or someone you care about needs help with sedative addiction, Oasis Bradford can offer a genuine lifeline. Our treatment programmes combine sedative detox, rehab and aftercare to help you put sedative addiction firmly behind you. Get in touch with us today and take control of your recovery and future.

Frequently Asked Questions