Sedative Use Disorder

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KEY POINTS

• Sedatives, also called antianxiety medicines or tranquilizers, are drugs that help calm and relax you. Sedative use disorder is a patterns of using sedatives that leads to serious personal, family, and health problems.
• If you are abusing or dependent on sedatives and want to quit, get help from your healthcare provider.
• Self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, support groups, and therapy may be helpful.

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What is sedative use disorder?

Sedatives are drugs that help calm and relax you. They are also called antianxiety medicines or tranquilizers. They may be prescribed to treat sleep problems and mental health problems such as panic attacks, anxiety problems, and fears that cause problems in your life (phobias).

Sedative use disorder is a pattern of using drugs that leads to serious personal, family, and health problems. The more of these statements that apply to you, the more severe your sedative use disorder is.

1. You use more or use sedatives for longer than you planned.
2. You want to cut down or quit, but are not able to do so.
3. You spend a lot of time and energy getting drugs, using drugs, and getting over the effects.
4. You crave sedatives so much that you have trouble thinking about anything else.
5. You have problems at work or school, or stop taking care of people who depend on you.
6. You have relationship problems because you don’t keep your promises, or you argue or get violent with other people.
7. You stop doing things that used to matter to you, such as sports, hobbies, or spending time with friends or family, because of your sedative use.
8. You use sedatives even when it is dangerous, such as while driving or operating machinery.
9. You keep using sedatives even though you know that it is hurting your physical or mental health.
10. You need to use more and more of the drug, or use it more often to get the same effects. This is called tolerance.
11. You have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using.

Sedative use disorder may also be called drug abuse, substance abuse, dependence, or addiction.

You may be abusing prescription medicine if you:

• Take them for reasons other than why they were prescribed
• Take more than the prescribed dose
• Continue to use them when you no longer have a need for the medicine

You may overdose, which means that you take too much medicine. An overdose can be life threatening. You can overdose if you:

• Lose track of how much and how often you take the drugs
• Use sedatives and drink alcohol at the same time
• Take too much on purpose

What is the cause?

The brain makes chemicals that affect thoughts, emotions, and actions. Sedatives change the balance of these chemicals in your brain. When you use more sedative than prescribed, your brain starts to get used to it. As a result, you may crave the drug and not feel right unless you use sedatives. When you stop using sedatives, the balance of chemicals in your brain changes, which causes the symptoms of withdrawal.

You have a higher risk of becoming dependent on drugs if you:

• Have a family history of drug or alcohol abuse
• Have abused alcohol or drugs in the past
• Are easily frustrated, have trouble dealing with stress, or feel like you aren’t good enough
• Are regularly around people who use alcohol or drugs
• Have a mental health problem
• Have constant pain
• Use sedative drugs for more than a short time

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of sedative use disorder depend on how much and how often you take the drug. The symptoms can be mild to severe, such as:

• Trouble paying attention
• Confusion and memory problems
• Sudden mood changes, such as getting angry or irritable
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

The symptoms of sedative withdrawal can be mild to severe. You may have one or more of these symptoms when you stop taking sedatives:

• Restlessness and irritability
• Changes in your appetite or sleep
• Cravings for the drug
• Seizures

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask how much and how often you take sedatives. Be honest about your drug use. Your provider needs this information to give you the right treatment. He will also ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. You may have tests or scans to help make a diagnosis.

How is it treated?

Sedative use disorder can be treated. For any treatment to be successful, you must want to stop using drugs. Do not try to use alcohol and other drugs to reduce withdrawal symptoms

If you suddenly stop taking sedatives, major withdrawal symptoms start within a few hours and be life threatening. Withdrawal from sedatives should be done only under medical care in a hospital, clinic, or treatment center. It may take days or months. Your healthcare provider will watch you closely and slowly reduce the amount of sedatives that you take during this time. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to help you get through withdrawal.

If you want to quit, get help.

Self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, support groups, and therapy may be helpful. Kinds of therapy may include:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps you look at your thoughts, beliefs, and actions, and understand which ones cause problems for you. Then you learn to change unhealthy ways of thinking and acting.
• Family therapy. Often people with substance use disorders don’t realize they have a problem or aren’t ready to accept treatment. This leaves loved ones frustrated and confused. Family therapy treats all members of the family rather than working with one person alone. It helps the whole family understand each other better and make changes.
• Substance use disorder treatment programs. Your healthcare providers and counselors will work with you to develop a treatment program. You may be able to go to therapy a few times a week. Or you may need treatment in a hospital or rehab center. You may need to stay there for several weeks, or you may be able to go to a clinic or hospital each day.

Recovery is a long-term process. Many people with substance use disorders try to quit more than once before they finally succeed. Don't give up. You can quit and quit for good. Get help and try again. Follow-up treatment is very important so that you don’t go back to using drugs.

If you have overdosed, or are having severe withdrawal symptoms you will need to be treated in a hospital. You will also be treated for any health problems such as a heart attack, stroke, or other life threatening problems.

How can I take care of myself?

The best way to help yourself is to see your healthcare provider and make plans to stop taking sedatives. If you are already seeing a healthcare provider, it is important to take the full course of treatment he or she prescribes.

Get support. Talk with family and friends. Consider joining a support group in your area.

Learn to manage stress. Ask for help at home and work when the load is too great to handle. Find ways to relax. For example take up a hobby, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.

Take care of your physical health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet. Limit caffeine. If you smoke, try to quit. Don’t use alcohol or drugs. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.

Avoid situations where people are likely to use alcohol or drugs.

Check your medicines. To help prevent problems, tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all of the medicines, natural remedies, vitamins, and other supplements that you take. Take all medicines as directed by your provider or therapist. It is very important to take your medicine even when you are feeling and thinking well. Without the medicine, your symptoms may not improve or may get worse. Talk to your provider if you have problems taking your medicine or if the medicines don't seem to be working.

Contact your healthcare provider or therapist if you have any questions or your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

How can I help prevent an overdose of sedatives?

You need to take steps to prevent overdose:

• Do not keep medicines on a bedside table. You may take the wrong medicine or wrong dose when you are not fully awake or alert. Do not take medicines in the dark.
• Use a "dose-reminder" box. These boxes can help you see at a glance if you have taken your medicine for the day. Make sure that you take the right amount of medicine at the right time.
• Talk with your provider about whether your dose can be changed, or if your symptoms can be treated in other ways.
• Don't take more than directed. If the dosage no longer works, talk with your healthcare provider.

Get emergency care if you or a loved one has serious thoughts of suicide or self-harm, violence, or harming others.

People and resources in your community that can help you include your healthcare providers, therapists, support groups, mental health centers, and alcohol or substance abuse treatment programs. You may want to contact:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  212-870-3400
  http://www.aa.org/
• Narcotics Anonymous
  818-773-9999
  http://www.na.org