Written by:

Lee Spinks

Last Updated:

December 2nd, 2024

Zolpidem addiction

Around a fifth of people in the UK have trouble sleeping due to issues like stress, financial worries and uncomfortable sleeping environments. For people with serious insomnia and other chronic sleep problems, zolpidem can provide much-needed rest and relief. While zolpidem can seem like a dream drug, it can quickly become a nightmare if you get trapped in zolpidem addiction. This is a sneaky but devastating form of sleeping pill addiction that can affect your health and well-being in serious ways.

What is zolpidem?

Zolpidem is the generic name for Ambien, a medicine that helps people with insomnia. It is part of a group of drugs called “Z-drugs” that were designed to be less addictive than older ones. Zolpidem has become one of the most popular sleep aids because it helps balance chemicals in the brain, making you feel calm and ready for sleep.

Doctors usually prescribe zolpidem on a short-term basis, especially for people who have sleep problems which come on suddenly. It is also sometimes given to hospital patients who are having trouble sleeping because they are stressed, anxious or in pain.

What is zolpidem addiction?

Zolpidem addiction happens when you start to feel like you can’t live without the medication. This can affect you both physically and mentally and can start when you use zolpidem to treat real sleep problems or sedate yourself for pleasure or self-medication.

Mentally, you might become dependent on zolpidem as it makes you feel relaxed and relieves stress and anxiety. This can be a positive at first, but before you know it, you might feel like you need it to cope with life’s challenges and responsibilities.

Physically, your body can get used to zolpidem, meaning you need more of it to sleep or relax. If you increase your dose without your doctor’s guidance, you can then develop a physical dependency with really unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop taking it.

When both your body and mind are hooked on zolpidem, it becomes very hard to control your use of the medicine, so you keep taking it even though you know it’s harming you.

How to spot zolpidem addiction symptoms

Spotting the signs of zolpidem addiction can help you get help before things get worse. The problem is that it can be tricky to spot zolpidem addiction symptoms, especially if you’re using it for real sleep problems. Here are some things to look out for:

• Needing to take more zolpidem to fall asleep.
• Running out of zolpidem faster than expected and constantly needing to refill your prescription.
• Feeling like you need to take zolpidem even when you aren’t trying to sleep.
• Experiencing the symptoms of zolpidem addiction and withdrawal like anxiety, anger or restlessness.
• Memory problems or gaps in your memory after using zolpidem.
• Getting zolpidem illegally by visiting multiple doctors or buying it online.
• Doing badly at work or school because you are always on zolpidem.
• Avoiding friends and family to use zolpidem in private.
• Continuing to use zolpidem despite these problems.

Why is zolpidem addictive?

There are several things that can increase the risk of addiction. If any of these apply to you, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider before using zolpidem:

Mental health issues

Conditions like depression, anxiety and chronic stress can lead to zolpidem addiction if you start taking it to cope with the symptoms.

Chronic insomnia

If you have chronic sleep issues, you might feel desperate for relief, leading to zolpidem abuse and addiction.

Easily availability

If zolpidem is easy for you to get, either through prescriptions or illegally, it can be easier to misuse and become addicted.

Addiction history

If you or your family have struggled with addiction before, you might be more likely to get addicted to zolpidem.

Influence from others

Being around people who use zolpidem or other drugs can normalise drug abuse and increase your chances of developing a zolpidem addiction.

Not understanding the risks

If you don’t realise how risky zolpidem can be and take it without caution, this can be a slippery slope to addiction.

Zolpidem addiction side effects

Zolpidem addiction can cause serious damage to your health, relationships and every other part of your life and future prospects. If you notice any of these Zolpidem addiction side effects, you should speak to a professional because catching them early can make a big difference:

Breathing problems

Mixing zolpidem with alcohol or other drugs can make it really hard to breathe and can even stop your breathing altogether. This can be super dangerous and is one of the main reasons why people might fatally overdose on zolpidem.

Dizziness and balance issues

Feeling dizzy, uncoordinated, or off-balance are common zolpidem side effects that can make you more likely to trip or fall and result in injuries.

Frequent headaches

If you start getting headaches a lot more often, it might be because of the zolpidem. These headaches can become a constant problem and really affect your daily life.

Digestive problems

Using zolpidem for a long time can cause nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. These issues can be really uncomfortable and might make you feel sick a lot of the time.

Daytime sleepiness

Feeling super sleepy during the day can make getting things done at school or work tough. It can also make driving and other technical things really dangerous.

Depression

If you start feeling really down, hopeless or lose interest in things you used to enjoy, it might be due to zolpidem addiction. This can be very hard to deal with and might lead to serious feelings like thinking about hurting yourself.

Increased anxiety

Trying to stop taking zolpidem can make you feel even more anxious or cause panic attacks.

Mood swings

You might notice sudden changes in your mood, like feeling super irritable or angry for no reason. These mood swings can make it hard to get along with friends and family.

Memory problems

Having trouble remembering things or experiencing gaps in your memory can be a sign of zolpidem addiction. This can be really scary because you might not remember important events or conversations.

Hallucinations

Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there can be scary and confusing. This is a rare zolpidem addiction side effect, but if this happens to you, it’s important to reach out for help right away.

Treatment for zolpidem addiction

To be effective, zolpidem addiction treatment needs to focus on all the different aspects of dependency. For physical dependency, you will first go through detox so your body can clear all the zolpidem and begin to function normally again. After that, rehab treatment is the next crucial step in sleeping pill addiction treatment. This will help you understand why you became mentally and emotionally dependent on zolpidem and learn how to live without it. After that, you will then begin an aftercare programme to stop you from going back to zolpidem once you leave rehab.

Get help for zolpidem addiction today

Banbury Lodge is one of the UK’s leading treatment centres for zolpidem addiction. Our treatment programmes combine detox, rehab and aftercare to ensure you have everything you need to make a full and lasting recovery. Contact us, and we will answer any questions and help you get started.

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