Ambien Overdoses

What is Ambien?

Ambien is a sedative prescribed to people with mild to moderate sleeping problems, including insomnia.

For people who are prescribed Ambien, the risk of an Ambien overdose is probably the last thing on their minds.

Instead, they are probably much more worried about treating the issues that it was prescribed to treat.

Anytime you take any medication, you should be fully aware of any risks it may have.

Ambien is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States today.

Like most medications, Ambien comes with risks, including the risk of overdose.

Understanding Ambien Overdose

Taken in small doses as prescribed by your doctor, Ambien is typically considered a safe medication.

When someone abuses it or takes it for an extended period, they run the risk of an overdose. Ambien overdoses occur when someone takes a large amount of a drug all at once. For Ambien users, this typically happens when they take enough pills to equal a dose of 70 milligrams or more. You can also experience an Ambien overdose if you drink alcohol while taking this medication or using other drugs.

People who inject or snort Ambien can overdose on smaller amounts because this medication was not designed to be taken in these ways and end up in your brain and bloodstream much more quickly.

Effects and Abuse of Ambien

An Ambien overdose is not the only risk associated with this medication. While this medication may be less dangerous than the other sedatives that came before them, taking these pills still carries some risk of negative physical side effects.

Some of the side effects include:

• Stomach or digestive issues
• Chronic fatigue or drowsiness
• Frequent headaches
• Dry mouth
• Muscle pain
• Poor motor coordination
• Sleepwalking

Ambien can also cause complications for people that already have liver or kidney problems by making these issues worse.

One of the most common reasons people have side effects from this medication is because it is only to be used for a short period, usually no more than six weeks. People who take the medication for longer can become dependent on it to sleep. The longer you take it, the higher the chances of you developing side effects and the harder it will be for you to stop taking it.

Mental Illness and Ambien

When it comes to this medication’s side effects, physical symptoms are not the only ones that happen.

It can also cause symptoms that affect your mental health. This is because the medication works in the area of your brain that controls your emotions and sleep cycles.

Some of the negative mental health issues you may experience can include:

• Depression/anxiety
• Short-term memory loss
• Problems concentrating
• Hallucinations
• Problems remembering where you are or what time it is
• Inability to enjoy things that used to make you happy
• Confusion
• Nightmares

One of the lesser-known side effects of this substance is suicidal thoughts. This is an especially serious risk for people who deal with depression or anxiety symptoms before they started taking this substance. While only a few studies have been done on this side effect, enough data has been gathered to show that it can happen and potentially be life-threatening.

How Do I Know if I am Experiencing an Ambien Overdose?

Overdose signs usually start appearing soon after you have taken the medication because it works very quickly in your system to help you relax and sleep.

The symptoms of an overdose are also easy to identify. It is important to seek help immediately if you think you or someone you know is experiencing an overdose.

Symptoms of an overdose may include:

• Abnormal or slowed breathing
• Coma
• Confusion
• Extreme sleepiness
• Irrational thoughts
• Loss of consciousness
• Slowed heart rate

In addition, people who mix alcohol or other drugs with Ambien are more likely to experience an overdose. As with most drugs, an overdose can be treated if you seek help immediately after symptoms begin. Without help, there is a high chance that someone can die from an overdose.

Treatment

As with many medications, this type of addiction usually happens when someone takes it longer than they are supposed to or takes higher doses than prescribed. And, while Ambien addiction is one of the less common addictions, Emerald Isle Health & Recovery has many treatment options available to help our patients.

Your recovery plan will be customized to suit your individual needs, especially if you have experienced Ambien overdoses.

We recommend starting with detox for people with the most severe addictions, which allows us to help you get all the medication out of your system. Our medical detox program enables us to reduce withdrawal symptoms, all while you stay under the watchful eye of our highly trained medical team.

Once you have completed detox, we can move on to behavioral therapy. For people dealing with an Ambien addiction or who have been through Ambien overdoses, we recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps pinpoint the thoughts and behaviors that lead to your drug abuse. We then help you relearn healthier thought processes, better ways to deal with stress, and tactics to avoid drug triggers. CBT is an effective option for people dealing with both addiction and negative mental health symptoms.

Payment Information

Do you want treatment but are worried about how you can pay for it?

We have a team of financial professionals who provide free insurance verification.

We work with you to determine how to move forward with the best treatment option in a way that works for you and your financial situation.

How to Get Help

Are you or a loved one suffering from addiction?

At Emerald Isle Health & Recovery, we understand how difficult it can be to give up an addiction because, with long-term use, the mind is continuously remembering the euphoric feelings.

Our dedicated team will help you customize a treatment plan to rediscover natural euphoria۔

Our goal is for you to leave Emerald Isle Health & Recovery with mental fortitude and coping skills to maintain lifelong sobriety.

Call Emerald Isle Health & Recovery to schedule an appointment.

We challenge you to make a fresh start with us today.