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Is Detox Help Available For Z-drugs (Lunesta, Ambien)

Sleep helps you rest and regain energy. It helps boost the immune system. During sleep, your brain stores information, helping your learning and memory skills. The importance of sleep is why many people sometimes turn to drugs if they develop disturbed sleep patterns.

Is Detox Help Available for Z-Drugs (Lunesta, Ambien)

Although safer than benzodiazepines, z-drugs are still addictive and have the same risks.

Z-drugs are a class of prescription sleep medications like:

They are prescribed to treat insomnia. Long-term z-drug use poses a risk as they are highly addictive and difficult to discontinue. Prescription drug detox is a necessary first step in treating z-drug addiction.

How to Recognize Z-Drug Addiction

It can be difficult to identify z-drug addiction due to the normal side effects of these medications. Even when using them exactly as prescribed, you can develop dependency or addiction. The following symptoms are yellow flags that could indicate a substance use disorder (SUD):

  • Blanks in memory
  • Slurred speech
  • The inability to concentrate
  • Dizziness and vertigo
  • Canceling plans due to the side effects of z-drugs

These are z-drug side effects that could also signal addiction. Without one or more red flags, you may not be able to tell the difference. Red-flag symptoms of z-drug addiction include:

  • Continuation of z-drug use despite sleep-driving, sleepwalking, and sleep talking (as noted by FDA boxed warnings)
  • Anxiety when thinking about not taking z-drugs
  • Borrowing z-drugs from friends
  • Rebound insomnia when attempting to discontinue z-drugs
  • Doctor shopping to get more z-drugs
  • Taking higher dosages of z-drugs than prescribed
  • Taking z-drugs more often than prescribed
  • Craving z-drugs

If you experience these symptoms as a result of z-drug consumption, know that you do not have to go through the drug detox process alone. Z-drug withdrawal is nearly impossible to complete without medical assistance. Prescription drug detox programs can help with your drug discontinuation.

Z-Drug Acute Withdrawal Symptoms

When preparing to come off z-drugs, it is important to know the acute withdrawal symptoms you will face. Z-drugs cause a myriad of psychological and physical symptoms of varying severity. Your exact symptoms will depend on how long you have taken z-drugs, the half-life, the potency, the frequency of consumption, and any mental health conditions.

Unfortunately, even the least severe symptoms cause pain.

These are the possible psychological symptoms:

  • Rebound insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Intense drug cravings
  • Severe depression
  • Delirium
  • Suicidal ideation

These are the usual physical symptoms:

  • Muscle spasms
  • Sweating
  • Increased pulse
  • Heart palpitations
  • Hand tremors
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Convulsions
  • Seizures

When you are addicted to z-drugs, your withdrawal will likely feel unbearable. Though it is unlikely that you will experience all of these symptoms at once, any combination of them can cause anguish. Some of these withdrawal symptoms can lead to death if not managed properly. 

The cravings become so overwhelming that, without a controlled environment like a detox center, relapse becomes inevitable. From the moment you start to withdraw, your tolerance decreases. Any relapse at a high dose can lead to overdose or death. As such, when you come off of z-drugs, you should do so in a detox facility for your overall safety.

Detoxing at home is always a mistake. Ultimately, a detox center can provide a safer, easier withdrawal from z-drugs.

Tapering off Z-Drugs

For the best detox results, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) recommends that doctors gradually taper down z-drugs within a detox center. They suggest that medical staff implement alternative medications, possibly antidepressants and/or anticonvulsants, in their place. 

Very slowly tapering z-drugs can prevent unpleasant and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. It allows time to adjust medications to treat underlying conditions. The replacement drugs can also help treat rebound insomnia—a condition where you cannot sleep for multiple days as a result of z-drug dependency. Many antidepressants and anticonvulsants are known for causing drowsiness as well.

During the taper-off period, you should be attending therapy, including group therapy and individual psychotherapy. Reputable detox centers include mental health care as a part of the treatment plan. Therapists can teach you breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and coping skills to address your original insomnia. They can assist in creating a nighttime routine. 

They will also offer you holistic methods for inducing sleepiness. This will empower you, as a patient, to take control of your sleep-related behaviors. Additionally, it will help you deal with the milder symptoms that break through. You may still go through depression and anxiety as you come off z-drugs.

Is Rehab Necessary After Z-Drug Detox?

The answer to this question is not straightforward. If you have an addiction to z-drugs, residential rehab is the best option after finishing drug detox. If you do not crave z-drugs, if you do not think about drugs constantly, and if you do not worry about when and where you will obtain z-drugs, you might not need to attend rehab.

Chemical dependency is different than addiction. When you only have a dependency, you may not get much out of residential rehab. Instead, less intensive aftercare options may prove the most effective. You should consult a medical professional when determining the right steps for you after detox.

Find Z-Drug Detox Near You With DetoxNearMe.com!

Z-drugs offer assistance for people with chronic insomnia. People on the medication long-term can develop an addiction without ever noticing. It's only when they discontinue the medication that they'll realize their addiction. Luckily, certain detox facilities offer assistance coming off of sedative and hypnotic prescription drugs.

You can find z-drug detox centers easily with DetoxNearMe.com. Our site was developed to make the search for a reputable detox center near you easier and more efficient. With hundreds of listings, our site will help you find drug detox for your needs, budget, and location as simply as possible.

Don’t risk the side effects of z-drug addiction. Start your search today with DetoxNearMe.com!

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