Sedative addiction is a serious issue that requires professional treatment. There are significant risks to abusing sedatives and other types of prescription drugs. Find out what types of drugs are classified as sedatives and what support is available for overcoming this type of addiction.
Sedatives are a class of drugs typically taken for anxiety and sleep issues. They include benzodiazepines, selective benzodiazepine receptor subtype agonists (z-drugs), and barbiturates. Sedatives are classified as “controlled substances” because of their potential for misuse and abuse and their euphoric effects—meaning, that while many people will use sedatives as prescribed, many others will struggle with sedative abuse and addiction.
When someone begins to misuse a sedative in an effort to self-medicate, they are more prone to escalated misuse. Over time, this habit can develop into a full-fledged addiction. But, what exactly is sedative addiction, how do you recognize it, and how do you get help? This article will answer these questions and more to provide you with everything you need to know about sedative addiction.
What Is an Addiction to Sedatives?
Addiction is a disease characterized by the chronic, compulsive use of a substance or compulsive behaviors that lead to negative consequences. For example, people suffering from addiction may feel an uncontrollable need to gamble or they may take street drugs in quantities that cause them physical, mental, and emotional harm. Addiction is complex and stems from and is exacerbated by a wide range of factors such as genetics, mental illness, environmental influences, and life experiences.
What Kinds of Drugs Are Classified as Sedatives?
Drugs classed as sedatives are those that depress the central nervous system. There’s a wide array in this category, and they can vary in potency and form. Some may be sold as a liquid, while others are pills.
Which Types of Drugs Offer Sedative Effects?
Typically, sedatives include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, and opioids. Sedatives also include drugs that induce sleep, such as zolpidem (brand name Ambien) or eszopiclone (brand name Lunesta). These sleep-inducing drugs are classed as Z-drugs, which are non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics.
While barbiturates used to be more commonly used for sedation purposes, they’ve largely been replaced by the use of benzodiazepines in the medical field. This is because benzodiazepines are safer and more effective at treating anxiety or stress when taken as directed by a physician.
Opioids that are classified as sedatives include tramadol, morphine, fentanyl, and methadone. Opioids are frequently used as a pain management tool, but they’re also highly addictive. First-generation antihistamines are also sedatives.
How Do Sedatives Work?
Sedatives take effect by modifying communications in the body’s central nervous system. They make the neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects, work harder. By slowing your brain activity, they help the body to relax physically.
Is The Term “Sedative” Outdated?
Many people in the medical field are turning away from using the term “sedative” in favor of more specific alternatives. Because sedative refers to such a wide classification of drugs, there are more accurate ways to refer to these types of medications. Some of these terms are:
- Analgesics
- Anesthetics
- Painkillers
- Depressants
Due to their addictive nature and the common misuse of sedatives, sedative dependence is a risk of using these types of drugs for longer than your physician recommends. People who become addicted and stop taking sedatives suddenly will experience sedative withdrawal.
Sedative Addiction
Sedatives are depressants that work by acting on a naturally occurring brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This neurotransmitter helps you feel calm and sleepy by preventing your certain neurons from firing. It typically kicks in when you’re feeling scared or anxious, but sedatives can mimic or increase those same effects by binding to the same receptors as GABA and further slowing down brain activity. The result is an increased sensation of relaxation but taken too far, sedatives can depress the central nervous system to the point of coma or even death.
Sedative addiction can sneak up on you before you even realize you have a problem, especially if your sedative use started as a legal prescription for a diagnosed medical condition. Taking commonly abused sedatives like lorazepam, zolpidem, diazepam, and alprazolam for a long period raises the risk of addiction because it increases the likelihood you could become tolerant to the drugs’ effects. As you need higher and higher dosages to achieve the same sense of calm, you become dependent on the drug to sleep, relax, or curb your anxiety.
Dependency and addiction sound a lot alike, but they work slightly differently — sedative dependency means that your brain has become reliant on sedatives and needs them to function while sedative addiction refers to the compulsive consumption of sedatives and resulting negative consequences.
When Does Sedative Use Become an Addiction?
Sedative use turns into an addiction when your brain and body can no longer function normally without it. Not only do you crave the drug, but your body also goes into withdrawal if you don’t take it. If you’re unable to maintain your typical level of use, you may experience powerful, even painful feelings as your system struggles to regain its equilibrium and deal with the sudden absence of sedatives. Someone could be addicted to sedatives and not even be aware they have a serious problem.
If you suspect you or someone you know could be abusing sedatives, look for these signs of addiction:
- Slurred speech
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Irritability
Sedative and sleep aid abuse also come with behavioral red flags as users try to maintain their drug supply. Doctor shopping (going to several different doctors to get one or more sedative prescriptions), stealing money to buy drugs, performance issues at school or work, a sudden increase in risky behaviors, and dropping out of favorite hobbies and activities could all indicate a serious problem.
Recognizing Signs of Sedative Abuse
Sedatives are addictive when abused long-term. Over time, repeated misuse causes the body to develop a tolerance, requiring higher or more frequent doses to achieve similar effects. There are several types of sedatives, including benzodiazepines, barbiturates and sleeping medications.
Each type of sedative may affect the brain and body differently, but they cause a common range of behavioral, physical and psychological symptoms. These can include:
- Mood swings, depression or anxiety
- Paranoia or increased irritability
- Neglecting responsibilities at work, school or home
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Engaging in risky activities while under the influence
- Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
- Noticeable changes in weight and personal hygiene
- Spending an increasing amount of time procuring, taking or recovering from sedatives
- Having physical cravings to use sedatives
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when abruptly ending usage
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported about 4.9 million people aged 12 and over misused sedatives in 2021. Additionally, about 2.2 million people had a sedative use disorder. Recognizing signs of sedative abuse early can prevent an addiction from spiraling out of control, improving treatment outcomes.
Sedative Tolerance
It’s important to understand the difference between tolerance and sleeping pill addiction. People who take sedatives for months or even years may notice that their original dosage no longer has the same effect. What once made you feel drowsy and relaxed now seems to have little if any effect. As users seek to self-medicate and reach the desired level of relaxation and/or sleepiness, they start taking sedatives at higher dosages or more frequently than prescribed.
It’s possible to be tolerant of sedatives and not be addicted, though the first sometimes leads to the second. Tolerance is mostly physiological, meaning your body craves the drug but you aren’t necessarily dependent on it to function. Still, sedative tolerance can increase the risk of dependency and addiction as dosages spiral out of control
Common Withdrawal Symptoms and the Detox Process
Sedative withdrawal can be challenging, and in some cases, dangerous. The body adapts to the presence of the substance and eventually becomes dependent on it for normal functioning. When sedative use stops abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can occur.
Symptoms can vary in intensity depending on factors including the type of sedative and duration of use but commonly include:
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Tremors and sweating
- Hallucinations, disorientation or delirium
- Nausea and vomiting
- Intense cravings
- Elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature
- Seizures
- Anxiety and depression
- Headaches
These symptoms can interfere with recovery when left untreated. However, detoxing under medical supervision can provide access to supportive care, minimizing withdrawal risks. During detox, medical professionals gradually taper dosages to rid your body of sedatives over time. This can reduce the risk of severe symptoms.
They also monitor your vital signs, mental status and any emerging symptoms, providing supportive treatments as needed. These can include IV fluids for hydration, nutritional support, sleep aids or nonaddictive medications to manage symptoms. Detox usually lasts about 3 to 10 days. Once you complete the process, you can continue treatment through therapy, medication or rehabilitation programs.
Treatment Options for Sedative Drug Abuse
Ongoing treatment for sedative abuse is crucial to support recovery and reduce the risk of relapse. It also addresses psychological or behavioral factors contributing to drug use. A combination of treatment approaches often produces the best outcome. There are several options to consider, depending on the severity of addiction.
Long-Term Health Effects of Sedative Addiction
People who use and abuse sleeping pills could develop a sedative chemical addiction, more commonly referred to as chemical dependency. The constant influx of pills changes our brain chemistry. Your body becomes more resistant to the drug’s effects, but even though you may not feel the drug working, your system continues to react. After all that time and so many handfuls of pills, your body no longer knows what to do without the presence of sedatives.
Long-term sedative use could have the opposite of the drug’s intended effect, with users experiencing rising levels of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mania. Some people report sexual dysfunction, psychosis, delirium, and irritability.
Preventing Relapse and Building Healthy Habits
Building healthy habits is key in preventing relapse and maintaining long-term recovery. One approach is developing strong coping skills to manage triggers and stress without turning to substances. Other healthy habits to consider include:
- Establishing a daily routine. Following a consistent schedule involving regular sleep, exercise and balanced meals promotes physical and mental stability, reducing impulsive behaviors.
- Building a strong support system. Connecting with supportive friends, family members or other individuals in recovery provides encouragement, accountability and a sense of belonging. This can make staying sober more manageable.
- Setting achievable goals. Make a list of personal goals to work toward. These can be educational, professional or recreational. Accomplishing meaningful goals can help foster purpose, motivation and self-confidence, reducing harmful thoughts and behaviors.
- Avoiding high-risk environments. Steer clear of people, places and situations associated with past substance use. This tactic reduces exposure to triggers that can spark cravings, increasing your chance of maintaining recovery.
- Creating a relapse prevention plan. If challenges arise during recovery, having a clear relapse prevention plan can help you respond quickly. Outline details including personal triggers, coping strategies and emergency contacts to deter sedative use during stressful situations.
- Practicing regular self-care. Participate in activities that promote relaxation, reduce stress and enhance well-being. These can include practicing meditation, spending time in nature or engaging in hobbies such as drawing, writing or listening to music.
Why Sedative Addiction Needs Treatment
Left untreated, sedative addiction can seriously impact your quality of life. Sedatives and other drugs that depress the central nervous system may seem relatively harmless simply because they’re available via prescription and easily accessed at any neighborhood pharmacy, but the more available a drug is the harder it can be to quit.
Addiction isn’t a choice; it’s a disease. With relapse rates in the United States as high as 60%, it’s difficult, if not almost impossible, to recover on your own. Your best chance at managing sedative addiction is to commit to a comprehensive treatment approach that includes the full continuum of care from detox to post-rehab job placement and sober living skills.
If you suspect that you or someone you love is struggling with sedative addiction, the first step toward healing is reaching out for help. To explore your options for sedative addiction treatment and counseling, reach out to FHE Health today at (833) 596-3502. Our caring, experienced team is on call 24/7 to explain your options.
