How Likely is a Person to Overdose on Ambien?
There is nothing more harrowing than a series of sleepless nights. If you have been taking prescription Ambien in order to help you get restful sleep, you probably feel even more frustrated. Shouldn’t this medication be working? Maybe I’m not taking enough, you might start to think. Perhaps you are tempted to be your own doctor, so to speak, and increase your Ambien dose. Before you do, take a few minutes to learn about Ambien overdose and its dangers.
In recent years, sleep medications have become more sophisticated in their formulations. As a result, it is far less likely that patients will become physically dependent on the drugs, as can easily occur with narcotics and the old-fashioned types of sleeping pills. However, it is still possible to build up a tolerance to Ambien, meaning that it becomes less effective over time. In order to recapture the former effects, some patients opt to increase the dose on their own and/or to mix Ambien with alcohol. Either of these practices can lead to a dangerous Ambien overdose.
Because doctors are prescribing sleep remedies to more patients each year, Ambien overdose is a trend that may well spiral out of control in the years to come. If you or someone you love is in a situation in which Ambien overdose is a possibility, seek medical attention immediately. Although the drug cannot be quickly purged from the body once ingested, supportive care in a medical environment is essential in order to monitor heart and lung stability. Symptoms of Ambien overdose may include cardiac or pulmonary failure
After just one or two sleepless nights, patients can begin to become desperate for a cure. Even taking an overdose of Ambien might start to seem like an idea worth trying. Instead, talk to your doctor right away. Ambien is not designed to be a long-term sleep aid; in fact, it only remains effective for thirty-five days. If you have been taking it for a period longer than a month, it is time to go over more viable long-term alternatives with your doctor. You may also want to ask him or her about natural remedies. In any case, the dangers of excessive Ambien far outweigh the benefits.
