What Happens When I Chat With The Lifeline
1. First, youll see a wait-time message while we connect you to a crisis counselor.
2. If demand is high, you can always look at our Helpful Resources below, or call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
3. A counselor will answer your chat.
4. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share resources that may be helpful.
Your conversations are free and confidential.
If youre having trouble accessing Chat and the troubleshooting tips below dont resolve the issue, Crisis Counselors are available to support you by phone at 1-800-273-TALK . You can also Contact Us to share the technical trouble youre experiencing so we can get things fixed.
Treatments For Sleeping Pill Addiction
Now that you understand the risks of Ambien addiction, you may be ready to discover how to get help with your dependency. When seeking treatment, a professional center like CVRC can make the process easier. Withdrawal symptoms from Ambien are often painful and can even be deadly, but professional addiction therapy services can help you to achieve long-term recovery. We can guide you through your treatment program to help ensure you reach through to recovery on the other side.
Highlights we offer for sleeping pill addiction treatment include but are not limited to:
Here at Crest View, the amount of guidance and assistance our staff can offer is endless. We are here to ensure you every step of the way that you can overcome your addiction and recover completely.
Dangers Of Mixing Ambien And Alcohol
Overdoses often occur when sleeping pills are combined with alcohol because both are depressants. This combination increases the risk of respiratory depression or hypoventilation. This means that these drugs cause normal bodily functions, like breathing to slow down so much that the user is unable to take in enough oxygen or release enough carbon dioxide which can lead to death. Individuals may combine medication, like Ambien, with alcohol to produce a high that results in hallucinations or a tranquilizing effect.
The combination of these substances enhances the effects of both and can be deadly when mixed. In addition to depressing bodily functions, individuals are more likely to engage in dangerous activities, such as sleep driving, while under the influence.
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Ambien Overdose Can You Overdose On Ambien
Taking too much Ambien can result in potentially dangerous side effects including overdose. An Ambien overdose can be fatal if not treated properly. If you are struggling with an addiction to Ambien, seeking treatment is the best way to prevent serious and even deadly side effects like an overdose.
Ambien is a prescription medication most commonly used to treat insomnia. This drug comes with the risk of a number of side effects, including the potential for overdose. Abusing Ambien only increases the chance that someone will experience an overdose on this drug.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to Ambien, there are several treatment options available. Vertava Health offers a number of different addiction programs that help individuals overcome Ambien dependence and addiction and live a fulfilling life in sobriety.
Sleeping Pills Overdose Suicide
Because a hypnotics overdose usually has a tranquilizing effect, leading to a possible painless death, suicide by sleeping pills is one of the choices.
Diphenhydramine, a common substance used in hypnotics, is deemed to have caused an increased number of suicides. A study made over 13 years in Berlin, showed that 55 fatal diphenhydramine poisonings took place with a large number of those being attempted suicides.
Historically, this substance has been the most used OTC medication all over the world for intentional overdose. In 1997, in England and Wales, diphenhydramine suicide accounted for 200 deaths.
If someone is thinking about commiting suicide, taking sleeping pills is not a way. Call to free suicide prevention hotlines and ask for help. Speaking to a caring psychologist confidentially may help to find a way out.
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What To Do If Someone Overdoses On Sleeping Pill
If an individual thinks that someone has taken a sleeping pill overdose, they should call an ambulance immediately.
When the ambulance arrives, show them any empty packets or bottles of pills that the victim might have taken.
While waiting for the paramedics turn the person in the coma position, with the body face down, the head turned one side and one knee slightly bent. Check if the airway is clear and if the person is breathing. Also, check for a pulse in the wrist and neck. Check for both pulse and breathing regularly while waiting for the ambulance.
If there is no pulse in the neck, one can embark on CPR. Turn the person on the back and before doing CPR, call the ambulance and tell them the victim is in cardiac arrest, so they know what to take from the ambulance.
What Happens When You Mix Sleeping Pills With Alcohol
It is advised to never mix sleeping pills with alcohol because the interaction can be dangerous or, in some cases, potentially fatal. 3 Even small amounts of alcohol combined with certain sedating medications, such as prescription sleep aids, can result in serious symptoms such as over-sedation, confusion, dizziness, fainting, as well as slowed heart rate and breathing. 3,4
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What Happens When You Overdose On Sleeping Pills
One of the most dangerous things about sleeping pills is how often they are taken. Whether someone is taking antihistamines from the drugstore or something stronger with a prescription, they often think it is safe to use these medications every night. However, doing that means that dependence and tolerance levels can go up, and this can lead to unexpected results.
Everyone needs sleep and people will go to nearly any lengths to make sure they get enough of it. Some people might choose to misuse medications to help them get their rest. Because sleep aid medications can be abused, it is useful to be fully aware of the risks that come with them, including an overdose risk.
Some people might use sleeping pills to commit suicide, and if you or a loved one is suffering from suicidal thoughts or tendencies, you should call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately, on 1-800-273-8255.
Around 60 million people in the United States suffers from sleep problems and about 4 percent of the country take medication to help them get a good nights rest. Millions of people use hypnotic drugs to sleep better, deeper and longer every single night. Sleeping aids range from over-the-counter antihistamines with drowsiness being a side effect, to extra-strong prescriptions.
Symptoms Of Ambien Overdose
It is dangerous to mix any sleeping pills with alcohol because both substances act as depressants. When combined they increase the risk that normal functions like breathing will slow down too much resulting in low oxygen levels and a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood. This can lead to brain damage and death. If Ambien is taking with alcohol it has been known to cause hallucinations as well as having an extreme tranquilizing effect.
Combining these substances increases the way each one works within the body and can be deadly and can also lead to risky behaviors like driving while under the influence.
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Take Action And Get Help For Ambien Abuse
The most effective way to avoid a zolpidem overdose is to avoid using the drug. If you and your doctor have determined that Ambien is necessary for your overall health, make sure you only take the drug as prescribed. If you are currently misusing or addicted to Ambien, take action to regain control over your life.
Black Bear Lodge offers a safe haven for healing and recovery. Our Ambien rehab programs address physical addiction as well as its emotional and spiritual causes. Call us at to find out how our individualized treatment plans can help you find a safe, hopeful, and rewarding future.
Emergency Department Visits for Adverse Reactions Involving the Insomnia Medication Zolpidem. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 1 May 2013. Web. Accessed 24 May 2017.
Understanding The Mechanics Of Sleeping Pill Use
For some, sleeping pills can be highly beneficial. If youre not sleeping enough, especially multiple nights in a row, it can greatly diminish your mental performance and overall health. Often this limits you in nearly every aspect of your life.
What Is a Sleeping Pill?
Many people assume that to be considered a sleeping pill, a medication must only be used to treat sleep disorders. The truth is not that black and white. The term sleeping pill can be used to describe medications prescribed with the express intent of helping the user sleep. However, it may also apply to other sedatives that can be prescribed to treat insomnia and similar issues.
Like all medications, these drugs are anything but safe, and a lethal dose of sleeping pills can easily cause hospitalization and death. Heres a list of narcotic sleeping pills that are commonly prescribed to people who report trouble falling or staying asleep for one of a variety of reasons:
- Doxepin
- Zolpidem
- Suvorexant
Many of these substances are classified as Schedule III or Schedule IV drugs under the Controlled Substances Act . This means theyre heavily regulated and have a moderate potential for abuse, similar to benzodiazepines and some opioids. Other drugs used to help people sleep include antidepressants such as trazodone and antipsychotics like clonazepam .
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Why Do People Take Melatonin
Melatonin is the hormone released by our brains once we fall asleep and it is actively used to handle a range of different conditions. Apart from the regular sleep-related ones, melatonin is also known for being particularly useful in various cancer treatments as an additional ingredient to use through chemotherapy, for instance.
Brief Science Of Sleeping Pills
The scientific class of medications designed to treat sleep issues is called sedative-hypnotics. This class includes benzodiazepines , barbiturates, and hypnotics. While barbiturates depress the central nervous system, newer alternatives have quicker effects. These faster drugs include Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata.
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Types Of Common Sleeping Pills
Sedative hypnotics increase drowsiness, are used to treat anxiety and have the potential to be addictive. Examples include:
- Xanax
- Valium
Other newer forms of sedative hypnotics reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and are less likely to be habit-forming. Examples include:
- Ambien
- Lunesta
Barbiturates are another class of sedative hypnotics that depress the Central Nervous System and cause sedation. These are most commonly used during major surgery as an anesthesia.
Treatment For Sleeping Pills Overdose
If you are of those who are addicted to taking sleeping pills, it is time you go visit your doctor immediately. As mentioned, sleeping pills overdose can be fatal at times and hence you might need the help of treatment that includes a counteractive procedure.
Patients can at times develop seizure symptoms, and when large doses of sleeping pills are taken, the medication is taken out using a stomach pump. Though this might not sound to be quite appealing, it helps save a number of lives, every day in every country across the globe.
In a case where the dosage is limited and the patient is suffering from addiction and overdose problem, the doctor might suggest some medications to reverse the sedation. These medications help to bring the patient back to their normal routine and also helps improve their sleep pattern.
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Dangers Of Sleeping Pill Addiction
Dan Kaufer, MD, neurologist, and director of the UNC Memory Disorders program, notes that there are three classes of medications that can have severe cognitive side effects. These include benzodiazepines, opioids, and antihistamines.
Benzodiazepines like Restoril are often prescribed as sleep aids. These drugs can significantly impair memory and are not generally effective for long-term use as the body quickly builds a tolerance to them.
Over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl may also be used for insomnia. These seemingly harmless drugs can cause confusion in older adults because they block acetylcholine, a brain chemical that affects short-term memory and attention.
Prolonged use of diphenhydramine can increase a persons risk of dementia.
What Happens When You Mix Alcohol With Sleeping Pills
For instance, when you stop using sleeping pills and alcohol, rebound insomnia is likely to develop. 9 In cases of recovery from co-occurring addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills, continued sedative-hypnotic treatment may not be a viable therapeutic option in such instances, a more behavioral treatment focused approach may be required. 9,11
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Physical Effects Of A Sleeping Pill Overdose
A sleeping pill overdose can lead to death if enough of a substance is taken or other substances are involved. The effects on the bodys systems can vary from case to case.
If someone survives a sleeping pill overdose, they may have gone through a period when their heart rate slowed to unsafe levels. This can deprive the bodys systems and organs of oxygen. Potential consequences include brain damage, loss of senses and lung and other organ damage. These are lasting effects that may be difficult to recover from.
What Happens If You Mix Alcohol And Sleeping Pills
It is advised to never mix sleeping pills with alcohol because the interaction can be dangerous or, in some cases, potentially fatal. 3 Even small amounts of alcohol combined with certain sedating medications, such as prescription sleep aids, can result in serious symptoms such as over-sedation, confusion, dizziness, fainting, as well as slowed heart rate and breathing. 3,4
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What Are The Specifics Of Sleeping Pills Overdose
Specifics are a crucial thing to consider if your aim is to end your life through pills overdose. Depending on your health and age, your tolerance level to the pills may differ to another person who used them successfully. If you are healthy and energetic, you may be tolerant to the pills thus increasing your survival probabilities. There are also other factors like your blood chemistry with the drugs, and the possibility of someone interrupting your suicide attempt. Mostly, victims of sleeping pills overdose have used alcohol since it takes some time before the sleeping pills before you start experiencing the fatal effects of the pills.
Since the modern day makers produce the drugs focusing on the nervous system, it is possible for the modern day pills to cause significant damage to your damage. When you take the prescribed dosage, the pills will only have minimal side effects thus posing a minimum risk of death. However, when taken in large quantities, they have the abilities to shut down the body through the receptors and neural organs.
Your Dependency On These Pills
Your body might find it easier to counteract the effects of sleeping pills if you have been taking them for long, as mentioned before. This occurs because your brain produces melatonin, a sleep hormone, in reduced amounts in this case. When your brain secretes this hormone in fewer amounts, making you alert and awake for long hours and dependent in the long run.
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Can You Die From Sleeping Pills
Yes, not only can you overdose on sleeping pills, you can die of sleeping pill overdoses. There is even a long list of celebrities who died of this overdose, including Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, and Marilyn Monroe. Although not every user will die from the same amount of overdose and other factors, certain dosage limits of certain categories of sleeping pills are known to be fatal.
For example, Ambien, which is one of the forms of Zolpidem, has a recommended dosage of 10 mg. A user will get to the overdosing zone at 600 mg where serious health damage is a great probability. Death has been reported for overdoses that were over 2,000 mg.
On the other hand, you can have an overdose on Lunesta if you take 90 times more than the recommended dosage. And it could be fatal if Lunesta is combined with depressants like alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Similarly, you have to take 200 mg of Sonata to experience an overdose on this sleeping pill. If not taken with alcohol, there is a great chance for the victim to avoid the possibility of death because of the overdose.
Now that you know its not just about the number of the sleeping pills you intend to take when you ask the question how many sleeping pills can you take, just follow the dosage your doctor has prescribed you based on your age, health condition, and other relevant factors to stay on the safe side.
Which Sleeping Pill Overdose Can Cause Death
As mentioned above, modern sleeping agents are safer than their predecessors. Death from outright sleeping pill use is less likely than in the past, but its still possible. Still, there are certainly dangerous ranges of misuse at which life-threatening consequences are a higher possibility.
Ambien, for example, is typically taken at a 10 mg dose. At 600 mg, a user is entering overdose limitations, and serious damage is likely. Death is reported at doses higher than 2,000 mg, but a lethal dose may still occur at lower amounts.
An overdose on Lunesta can happen at approximately 90 times an intended dose. This would require upwards of 270 mg of the drug. Fatal overdoses typically only occur when mixed with depressants like benzodiazepines or alcohol.
Similarly, it generally takes around 200 mg of Sonata to overdose. Users have been known to survive this amount if alcohol wasnt involved.
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