Individuals suffering from insomnia are prescribed medication to treat their sleeping disorder. Sleeping medication works in different ways to induce sleep. Some directly affect the chemicals in the brain and others affect the circadian rhythm, or sleep-wake cycle to treat the symptoms of insomnia.
Individuals taking sleeping tablets such as Ambien, Zopiclone or Valium should take certain safety precautions. The medication should be taken according to the recommended dosage instructions. Abuse or over dosage of the sleeping medication leads to various side effects. Here we will take a look at some of the negative side effects that can result from taking more than the recommended dosage of the sleeping medication.
Side Effects of Sleeping Pills
Abuse or over dosage of sleeping medication results in various emotional and physical side effects. Some of the side effects are serious while others are relatively mild. Side effects usually occur if the medication is not taken according to the recommended safety instructions. The following are the most common emotional and physical side effects that result from the over dosage of sleeping medication.
Parasomnia: Parasomnia is a condition that is characterized by unusual behaviour during sleep. Over dosage of sleeping medication has been linked to individuals performing abnormal actions such as sleep walking or talking. The affected individual has no knowledge of the actions performed during sleep upon waking up. In some cases, this can lead to injury as the individual is not conscious when performing these activities.
Delirium: Over dosage of sleeping medication has also been associated with delirium. The condition is characterized by a confused state of mind, hallucinations, daydreaming and delusions. This usually occurs due to abrupt withdrawal of sleeping medication after long term use.
Tremor and Seizures: A serious side effect of the long term usage of sleeping medication is tremor and seizures. The condition is characterized by uncontrolled movements or shakiness in certain parts of the body such as arms, legs and fingers. In some cases people who abuse sleeping tablets can lose their sense of touch and the whole body may become numb.
Fatigue and Drowsiness: Over dosage of sleeping medication may result in fatigue and drowsiness throughout the day. When a person takes more than the recommended dosage of the medication, the effects of the drug carries on during the daytime. This negatively affects productivity levels due to feelings of lethargy and tiredness.
Digestive Problems: Sleeping medication when taken to excess can also cause digestive problems, mainly due to acidity. You may experience a change in bowel habits or diarrhoea when taking the medication. In some cases it also results in constipation or difficulty in removing waste from the body. Finally, over dosage of the medication may induce vomiting or feelings of nausea due to abdominal upset.