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Ambien Addiction

8 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

CONTENTS

If you take Ambien too often, you risk addiction—and about 2%of Ambien users will end up getting dependent on the drug according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ambien is one of the most commonly prescribed sleep medications in the U.S., helping with short-term insomnia, but its misuse potential is very high.

Ambien is a prescription medication and is mostly prescribed for insomnia. It is a sedative-hypnotic, or drug that affects the brain to produce a calming effect. Ambien has addictive potential due to how it interferes with the brain’s GABA receptors [1]. These receptors reduce the nerve activity in the brain, resulting in a feeling of relaxation and inducing sleepiness.

If you overuse Ambien, over time, the brain gets used to the drug, making it difficult for the user to sleep or relax naturally. This adjustment makes it more likely to become addicted and dependent, a fate that strikes when we cannot sleep without it.

Can Ambien Cause Dependence And Addiction

Ambien users can certainly become both addicted and dependent. By and large, it involves the physical aspect, where our body grows dependent on the drug however addiction has both physical dependence as well as compulsive behavior toward drug use.

Although Ambien is prescribed and even taken as prescribed by many, a person can become addicted to the medication, with dependence typically occurring alongside misuse, cravings, and lack of ability of a person to stop despite negative consequences.

Ambien Addiction Potential: How Does it Develop

The longer someone takes Ambien, the stronger its addiction potential is – especially if it’s taken outside of medical guidelines. A person will begin with the prescribed dosage but develop tolerance in time. Eventually, tolerance grows, and the same dose becomes less and less effective until the person takes more doses to get the same results. It can get trapped in a vicious cycle where the person begins to rely on the drug to function or sleep.

Many people also develop psychological cravings. By relying on Ambien not just for sleep but also for its calming elements when stress hits, they may start to fall back on the drug. It’s both a physical and a psychological reliance that fuels the process of addiction.

Ambien Abuse: Reasons and Myths

Many people abuse Ambien for different reasons and have turned to Ambien as a legitimate way of dealing with insomnia. But myths about the drug’s safety and how quickly it can cause people to become dependent on or addicted to the drug contribute to its misuse. But some people think it’s safer than other drugs or sedatives because Ambien is prescribed. It creates a false sense of security, increasing its misuse, such as taking larger doses or using it more frequently than recommended.

Also, there is a wish for it to be abused to get a sense of calm and euphoria it brings. Others take Ambien recreationally to relax or to escape anxiety. Some others will combine it with alcohol and such substances to increase the risk of overdose and addiction.

Can Ambien Addiction Occur Prescribed Doses

Ambien is, however, addictive especially when abused. Physical addiction is the result of the physical change your body goes through, becoming addicted to the drug, and needing more of the drug to get the same effect, whereas psychological addiction is about the mind’s attachment to the drug and needing the drug for sleep or to relax. Ambien provides relief and once someone experiences it, it’s easy to build some kind of habit around craving or requiring Ambien to sleep or cope with stress.

If you start taking Ambien with medical intentions, it’s extremely easy to become physically and psychologically dependent on it. Over time, the habit of taking Ambien may lead to a broken night’s sleep or feeling unable to rest or go to sleep without taking Ambien, further cementing the drug’s hold.

Who Is At Risk For Ambien Addiction

While anyone who uses Ambien is at risk of addiction, some factors raise that risk. Those who have a history of substance abuse or mental health problems like anxiety or depression may misuse Ambien. It can also be encouraging for people with these conditions because the drug can calm the mind and body, which makes it a very easy drug for them to become dependent on.

Those who use Ambien for a long time or take large quantities over a longer period are also at greater risk of addiction. Use of the drug as a short-term solution to insomnia can, so easily, become a long-term problem.

Ambien Addiction Risk Factors: Genetics, Environment, And Mental Health

Genetics: Genetic predisposition to addiction means that some people are genetically more likely to become addicted to anything, and Ambien is no exception [1].

Environment: Ambien can influence the likelihood of abuse based on a person’s surroundings such as stress levels, access to medications, and exposure to others who misuse drugs.

Mental Health: Ambien can be misused by people with–or who tend towards–anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric disorders to treat their symptoms. Eventually, this use can lead to dependence or addiction.

The drug Ambien, or zolpidem, has become one of the most commonly prescribed sleep meds in the U.S., and tons of prescriptions are written each year. However, with its widespread use, the concern of addiction and misuse has increased.

Prescription Data: In 2020, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimated about 60 million prescriptions were written for sleep meds including Ambien across the U.S. But this huge number shows just how often Ambien is used.

Abuse and Overdose Rates: A SAMHSA database reveals that over 20,000 emergency department visits in 2011 were due to Ambien misuse or overdose. Many of these visits occurred where individuals took Ambien in combination with alcohol or other sedatives, greatly increasing the risk of life-threatening reactions.

Addiction Potential: About 2% of Ambien users develop a dependence on the drug. Though this percentage may seem small, when considering the millions of prescriptions written each year, it is a considerable amount of users.

Key Points From Medical Authorities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against misuse of the drug, as it can be taken by older people during regular courses of therapy, given its potential to cause serious side effects. As well, a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that long-term treatment with zolpidem increased the risk of developing tolerance and dependence even in patients who adhered to medical guidelines.

They have also pointed out that there is a growing problem with ‘doctor shopping’ – where people who are addicted to Ambien go to multiple healthcare providers, seeking more prescriptions. Not only does this help encourage addiction, but it also makes it harder to track and prevent abuse.

The data does seem to confirm that Ambien is indeed an incredibly effective sleep aid, but that it also has a potentially devastating level of habit-forming potential when misused or taken for too long. These factors make it necessary to intervene in the fact that Ambien can be so addictive, and devise effective prevention strategies.

Ambien addiction can lead to several side effects that have varying degrees of severity based on how long these effects have been there.

Common side effects of Ambien addiction include:

Drowsiness: A “hangover” effect that continues throughout the day or persists days after the last use of designer drugs.

Dizziness and Confusion: Due to frequent dizziness and confusion, those addicted to Ambien may be more prone to falls and injuries [2].

Headaches: While some people report back pain and others suffer headaches, the headaches often get worse if the individual uses the drug chronically.

Stomach Problems: Long-term use of Ambien can cause nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems.

Sleepwalking or Unusual Behaviors: This is because people who become addicted to Ambien may perform activities like sleep-driving, sleep-eating, and sleepwalking and not recall these things at all [2].

In turn, Ambien can make the body prone to relying on the drug to sleep, add to that weakness of the body’s natural sleep mechanisms, and make it impossible to sleep without Ambien.

Cognitive And Physical Effects Of Prolonged Ambien Use

Over the years, the drugs stay in your system and continue to affect your cognitive health.

Long-term users may experience:

Memory Impairment: When Ambien is used on a chronic basis, it tends to produce poor recall of recently encountered events much like those found in people with Alzheimer’s disease [2].

Cognitive Decline: In addition, if used for long periods the slows cognitive function, leading to trouble concentrating or processing information.

Physical Weakness: Ambien use over a long period leads to physical dependence and suddenly cutting back on the medication can bring on feelings of muscle weakness, fatigue, and laxity of muscle tissues.

Research suggests that continuing to take Ambien for an extended period may raise your chance of developing dementia, but these results will need to be confirmed through further studies [2].

Ambien Addiction Risk: Long-Term Health Impacts

Aside from cognitive decline, long-term Ambien use can result in a host of other health issues, including:

Liver Damage: Like many medications, the longer you take Ambien, the more risk you run of straining your liver and, ultimately, causing damage or disease [1].

Increased Risk of Falls and Accidents: Older adults should know that Ambien may produce dizziness and impaired coordination. That risk falls, accidents, and injuries.

Mental Health Disorders: Ambien use can worsen conditions like depression, anxiety, or mood swings if you use it chronically [2].

Strategies To Avoid Ambien Addiction And Dependence

Careful management of the use of Ambien prevents addiction.

Here are some strategies to reduce the risk:

Follow Prescription Guidelines: Using Ambien only as directed by a doctor is the best way to avoid Ambien addiction. Translation: You’re taking the same dosage for the right time, usually less than a few weeks.

Limit Usage to Short-Term: Ambien is for short-term use. Do not rely on it for long periods, and talk to your doctor about other sleep therapies if you still don’t sleep.

Avoid Increasing the Dose: If Ambien seems less effective with time, don’t increase the dose on your own. If you find yourself using more than your doctor has prescribed talk to him or her.

Monitor Mental Health: Managing underlying mental health issues, like anxiety or depression, can help reduce the desire to misuse Ambien. Those with these conditions may be predisposed to overuse the drug to deal with emotional distress.

Ambien Addiction Risk Management: Using Ambien Safely

Regular check-ins with your doctor, and being aware of the signs of Ambien addiction are ways to keep the risk under control. It’s important to:

Track Usage: Keep track of how much and how often you use Ambien. It can help prevent your use from being mistakenly excessive or help you realize you’ve developed a habit.

Explore Alternatives: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an established, non-drug therapy for sleep difficulties. Finding alternatives to Ambien can help to reduce the reliance on sleep medications.

Stay Informed: Learn what the risks and side effects of Ambien may be. Knowing how addictive Ambien can be enables people to be more vigilant about misuse.

By abusing use of Ambien responsibly and getting creative with other sleep options you can escape the gruesome cycle of dependence and addiction.

1. Medical News Today. Ambien and Ambien CR (zolpidem). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-ambien#how-to-take

2. Very Well Health. Ambien Side Effects on Memory and Behavior. https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-ambien-affect-your-memory-3015265

FAQs

Can Ambien Cause Withdrawal Symptoms Even If Used For A Short Time?

By now, you should know that Ambien can be just as serine when it’s taken at higher doses as it does when it’s prescribed; even after short-term use, Ambien can cause withdrawal symptoms that, in the worst cases, can be lethal. Stopping Ambien suddenly after regular use may lead to anxiety, agitation, nausea, sweating, and rebound insomnia (a return of sleep problems worse than before). Withdrawal symptoms can be decreased by gradual tapering of the dosage under medical supervision.

Are There Any Signs That Someone Might Be Developing An Addiction To Ambien?

Early signs of Ambien addiction are taking the medication outside of prescribed times (i.e. using it during the day), increased tolerance (you require increasing doses for the same effect), or using it to cope with anxiety or stress instead of sleep. Other telltale behavioral signs include secretive behavior, “doctor shopping” — going to different doctors to get more prescriptions, and using Ambien with alcohol to see how far over the edge it could take you.

Is It Safe To Use Ambien With Other Sleep Aids Or Over-The-Counter Medications?

Ambien should not be mixed with other sleep aids or medications without a doctor’s guidance. The use of Ambien in combination with other sleep medications, antihistamines, and sedatives, alone can cause significant respiratory depression, excessive drowsiness, or overdose. Do not take other substances when you are on Ambien unless your healthcare provider advises you, to keep away from harmful interactions.

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