Sleeping pills help many Americans with sleep troubles, like insomnia. But, using too much or accidental overdose can be very dangerous. It can even be life-threatening. This guide will cover the risks of overdosing, the types of sleep meds, how much is safe to take, and what to do if an overdose happens.
Key Takeaways
- Sleeping pill overdose can occur from taking more than the prescribed dose, unintentional ingestion, or mixing with other substances like alcohol or opioids.
- Common signs of a sleeping pill overdose include extreme drowsiness, confusion, difficulty breathing, and unconsciousness.
- Certain sleeping pills, like diphenhydramine, have been associated with an increased risk of suicide.
- Immediate medical attention is crucial in case of a suspected sleeping pill overdose to receive life-saving interventions.
- Following safe dosage guidelines, avoiding mixing medications, and consulting healthcare professionals are key to preventing a sleeping pill overdose.
Understanding Sleeping Pills and Their Risks
Sleeping pills help people with sleep problems like not being able to fall or stay asleep. There are many kinds, some needing a doctor’s prescription, and some that can be bought without one. They all can help, but they also have risks you need to know.
Types of Sleeping Pills
Some well-known sleeping pills are benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, Valium), non-benzodiazepines or “z-drugs” (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata), and melatonin receptor agonists (Rozerem). Antidepressants can also help with sleep (like Silenor). You can find pills over-the-counter, too. These usually have antihistamines in them, such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine.
Sleeping Pills Side Effects
Sleeping pills can make you sleepy and help you stay asleep. But they come with side effects. You might feel dizzy, breathe slowly, or feel really tired at first. If you use them a lot, it might be hard to remember things. You could get sad or blue, have liver problems, or even feel like you can’t sleep without them.
Using too many sleeping pills can be very bad. You might feel extremely tired, not know what’s happening, or even fall into a very deep sleep. This can be risky. Especially if you use them with alcohol or other drugs that make you calm.
| Sleeping Pill Type | Common Examples | Potential Side Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Benzodiazepines | Ativan, Xanax, Valium | Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, memory impairment, dependence |
| Non-Benzodiazepines (Z-Drugs) | Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata | Dizziness, daytime fatigue, sleepwalking, memory problems |
| Melatonin Receptor Agonists | Rozerem | Headache, dizziness, nausea, daytime drowsiness |
| Antidepressants | Silenor | Dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, daytime sleepiness |
| Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids | Diphenhydramine, Doxylamine | Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, confusion |
Always be careful with sleeping pills and listen to your doctor. They’ll tell you how much to take. It’s very important to get their advice to use them safely.
Safe Dosage Guidelines
Knowing the safe dose for sleep pills, whether bought or prescribed, is very important. Sticking to these doses helps avoid taking too much and the dangers that come with it.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Sleeping Pills
OTC sleep pills, like Diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl, Sominex) and Doxylamine, should be taken from 25 to 50 mg each time. You can take up to 50 mg in a day. Always read the label and don’t take more than it says.
Prescription Sleeping Pills
Prescription sleep pills have their own dose rules. This includes Zolpidem (Ambien), Eszopiclone (Lunesta), Temazepam (Restoril), and Trazodone (Desyrel). Here are some common safe doses:
| Medication | Typical Safe Dose | Maximum Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Zolpidem (Ambien) | 5 mg for women, 5-10 mg for men | 10 mg per night |
| Eszopiclone (Lunesta) | 1 mg | 3 mg per night |
| Temazepam (Restoril) | 15-30 mg | 30 mg per night |
| Trazodone (Desyrel) | 25-100 mg | up to 150-300 mg per night |
Always talk to your doctor to figure out the right dose for you. They will consider your age, weight, and how healthy you are. Taking too much is very risky.
Causes of Sleeping Pills Overdose
There are several reasons for sleeping pills overdoses. This can happen if you use them wrongly or to self-medicate. Accidental use, or mixing them with other drugs, can also be risky. It’s important to know these reasons to stay safe.
Misuse or Self-Medication
Using sleeping pills wrongly is a key reason people overdose. They might take too much to sleep better or faster. But, it’s very risky. This misuse can make the drug stay in their body too long, leading to overdose.
Accidental Ingestion
Sometimes people overdose just by accident. This could be taking the wrong pill, too many, or pills that aren’t theirs. Being careless or forgetting about storing pills safely can cause this kind of accident.
Combining with Other Substances
Taking sleeping pills with alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines is very dangerous. These mixtures can make the drugs more powerful. They can stop your breathing, which is life-threatening.
It’s key to know about these overdose causes. This knowledge can help prevent accidents. By understanding the dangers and taking care, we can protect ourselves and our families.
Signs and Symptoms of overdose on sleeping pills
It’s important to know the signs of a sleeping pill overdose. This knowledge can help you get help fast and save a life. Signs of an overdose on sleeping pills include:
Extreme Drowsiness
Feeling extremely tired or sleepy can be a sign of sleeping pill overdose. The person might not be able to stay awake. They could seem confused and have trouble making sense of or responding to what’s happening around them.
Confusion and Slurred Speech
Too many sleeping pills can cause confusion and unclear speech. The person might not be able to think straight or talk properly. It’s a serious sign that they need help right away.
Difficulty Breathing and Unconsciousness
In very bad cases, a sleeping pill overdose can cause problems with breathing and even make someone pass out. They might have a very faint heart beat, as if they’re asleep or in a coma. In some rare cases, they could have seizures or turn blue around their lips or skin.
If you think someone has taken too many sleeping pills, get help fast. Knowing the above signs can really make a big difference. It might just save their life.
Dangerous Interactions with Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills help with sleep problems. But, they can be risky mixed with other things. Combining them with alcohol, opioids, or certain meds can be dangerous. It can make you too sleepy, possibly leading to very bad outcomes like coma or death.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol and taking sleeping pills is very dangerous. It can make the sedative effects stronger. This could make you very drowsy or even stop you from breathing. So, it’s very important not to drink alcohol when using sleeping pills.
Opioids and Benzodiazepines
Mixing sleeping pills with opioid painkillers or anxiety meds can be lethal. They together can slow important body functions like breathing too much. This raises the chance of overdose and death. So, it’s critical to avoid this mix without doctor’s advice.
Other Medications and Supplements
Sleeping pills interact with many types of meds and supplements. This can change how well the sleeping pills work or cause unwanted effects. Always talk to your doctor before adding any new medication or supplement to your sleeping routine.
Misusing Sleeping Pills for Self-Harm
Using sleeping pills to hurt oneself is a big worry. Some can make one sleepy fast, which people might see as an easy way to end their life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says more people have died from overdose each year since 1999. In 2016, over 64,000 deaths were recorded. This shows how important it is to know about sleeping pill overdose for suicide, intentional sleeping pill overdose, and sleeping pills and self-harm.
From 2005 to 2016, more people tried to hurt themselves with diphenhydramine. This way of hurting oneself went up by 63% for all ages, and 218% in those 10 to 14 years. Females use more over-the-counter drugs for self-harm than males. And about half of pregnant women who try to poison themselves do it with these drugs. 30% of all suicide tries use over-the-counter meds like acetaminophen.
Sleeping pills make people calm and are easy to get. Many think dying this way is not painful. But, knowing the signs and getting help fast is so important. Talking to someone who can help, like a mental health expert or calling a hotline, can save a life.
The problem of using sleeping pills to self-harm is hard and sad. We need to teach and make people more aware of mental health. This will help to keep the use of these pills safe and avoid bad endings.
Emergency Steps for a Sleeping Pill Overdose
If you think someone has taken too many sleeping pills, act fast. Here’s what you should do to help them:
Call Emergency Services
The first thing to do is call emergency services right away. Dial 911 or the emergency number in your area. Tell them the type and amount of pills, the person’s signs, and how they’re doing now.
Provide Information and Medication Containers
Know what pills they took and how many if you can. Find the pill bottles and any papers about the pills. Sharing this info helps doctors choose the best care. It lets them know how to help in the right way.
Perform CPR if Trained
If the person isn’t breathing and is out, do CPR if you know how. This keeps their blood and oxygen moving until help comes.
Don’t make them throw up or give them other stuff. It could make things worse. Stay by the person and give first aid until help gets there. Acting quickly and correctly is very important in these cases.
Treatment for Sleeping Pill Overdose
When you take too many sleeping pills, getting help fast is really important. Doctors use different methods to help the patient get better.
Flumazenil and Gastric Lavage
If the sleeping pills are a type called benzodiazepines, doctors might use a medicine called flumazenil. This medicine can help wake the person up from the sleepiness. But, it’s not always used because it can be risky. Doctors also might do a gastric lavage. This means they pump the stomach to get rid of any pills that haven’t been absorbed yet.
Activated Charcoal and Supportive Care
Activated charcoal can be used to absorb the pills and remove them from the body. Doctors also offer supportive care. They might give fluids through an IV, check how the person is breathing and their heart, and sometimes, they bring in a mental health expert to help. All of this helps the patient get stable and reduces the chances of problems.
The right treatment depends on what kind and how many pills were taken. Someone’s health before the overdose is also considered. If you think someone took too many sleeping pills, it’s vital to get help right away. Quick medical care can make a big difference in how well the person recovers.
Safe Use of Sleep Medications
Safety is key when using sleep medications. Always follow these guidelines to stay safe. Doing so helps avoid overdoses.
Consult Healthcare Professionals
Before you take any sleep medication, talk to your doctor. They will look at your health and history. Then, they can suggest what’s safe for you.
Follow Dosage and Timing Instructions
If the doctor prescribes a sleep medication, be careful with how much and when you use it. Never take too much. Also, don’t mix different sleep medicines without asking your doctor first.
Avoid Long-term Use
Using sleep medications for a long time is not good. It can cause problems like needing more medicine to sleep. Work with your doctor to find other ways to sleep if you need long-term help.
Following these tips can make using sleep medications safer. Always put your health first when dealing with sleep issues.
