Ambien Addiction & Misuse: Signs, Treatment, & More
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Written by:
Meredith Watkins
Reviewed by:
Scot Thomas, MD
Updated May 15, 2024
Table of Contents
Prescription medications can be beneficial for those who require them for physical and/or psychological purposes. However, some of them can be habit-forming and eventually lead to dependence. Ambien, a popular prescription sedative, is a prescription drug that can be dangerous when used outside of the parameters provided by a medical professional. If you or someone you love is struggling with Ambien use, it is important to be aware of how this misuse can impact your overall wellbeing. This page will cover specific topics related to Ambien misuse, including its addiction potential, possible health effects, signs of Ambien addiction, and how you or your loved one can get help.
What Is a Luxury Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center?
Ambien is a prescription medication in the CNS depressant group of drugs that include hypnotics, sedatives, and tranquilizers.1 They act by increasing inhibitory brain activity and are prescribed to treat anxiety, panic, or sleep disorders.1 Different types of CNS depressants are prescribed by doctors for different issues.1 For example, while tranquilizers are used to treat anxiety, hypnotics and sedatives like Ambien are prescribed to treat insomnia and induce sleep.1 Most CNS depressants largely act by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity in the brain.1 GABA is a chemical that inhibits brain activity, causing a relaxing effect as well as drowsiness.1 Ambien has a short half-life and is quickly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.2 It’s often prescribed for short-term use (around 10 days to up to 4 weeks), typically in 5 mg or 10 mg oral doses, and is available in either immediate or extended-release forms.2,3 Long-term use of Ambien can lead to tolerance and dependence, even when prescribed by a doctor.1 When tolerance occurs, a person will require a higher dose to experience the desired effect of induced sleep and reduced sleep latency. A person with dependence may experience withdrawal symptoms from Ambien if they abruptly reduce or stop taking the drug.1 Medically supervised detox can benefit people struggling with addiction to a CNS depressant like Ambien to help ensure comfort and safety.1 When used regularly or at higher doses than prescribed, a person is more likely to experience tolerance and dependence, as well as addiction. Because of the high potential for Ambien misuse, this drug is typically not recommended as a first-line treatment for most people.2 CNS depressants like Ambien have additive effects with other sedatives, hypnotics, and tranquilizers (including benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, as well as alcohol).4 Taking Ambien in combination with other CNS depressants, as well as with opioid painkillers, increases the risk of next-day impairment, abnormal behavior changes, and dependency.5 Combining these substances can also lead to a life-threatening overdose where a person stops breathing.6
What Is Ambien?
Luxury rehabilitation centers and programs throughout the country cater to those who expect a very high level of customer service and amenities found at high-end resorts. Services and amenities regularly found at more high-end rehab centers include:
- Acupuncture.
- Aromatherapy.
- Equine therapy.
- Golf.
- Spa treatments.
- Pools and hot tubs.
- Massage therapy.
- Nutritional counseling.
- Yoga.
- Gourmet meals.
- Private rooms.
- Large exercise facilities.
Luxury Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs
Inpatient addiction treatment programs at luxury rehab centers provide clients with the feeling of staying at a major resort or luxury hotel. These high-end treatment centers combine recreation with evidence-based treatment interventions designed to help those in recovery learn to develop a lifestyle independent of substances. Additionally, rehab programs help to decrease addictive behaviors that have previously taken over their lives. These evidence-based therapeutic approaches may include:1
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Focuses on the connection between behaviors, feelings, and thoughts. The therapist teaches you to recognize relapse triggers and how to cope with them.
- Contingency management (CM): Uses positive reinforcement in the form of vouchers or rewards to promote abstinent behaviors.
- Multidimensional family therapy: Aims to improve family functioning and heal damaged relationships.
Luxury inpatient rehab programs may integrate traditional treatment modalities with holistic or alternative treatment methods, such as:
- Yoga.
- Mindfulness and meditation.
- Acupuncture.
- Music therapy.
- Expressive arts therapy.
- Exercise therapy.
These programs provide a retreat experience, and clients can take a vacation from the difficulties of their daily lives and more rigorous schedules to begin focusing on their recovery and make a major change in their lives.
Are you worried about yourself or a loved one?
If you’ve noticed that your use of alcohol has grown out of control or is negatively affecting your life, relationships, or health, you may be questioning whether you have a substance use disorder. If you have been using alcohol and wonder if you may be addicted, answer the following 11 questions honestly.
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Inpatient vs. Outpatient Luxury Rehab Programs
Not all recovering individuals will need or wish to participate in inpatient services. Outpatient substance abuse treatment programs allow people to minimize the time spent away from their work and day-to-day responsibilities. Such programs hold regular treatment sessions that don’t interfere with the patient’s work, school, or home schedule. Another benefit of outpatient care is that the patients continue to live at home during treatment, whereas inpatient programming requires that all patients live at the facility for the duration of the program.
What Do Luxury Addiction Treatment Centers Treat?
Not all recovering individuals will need or wish to participate in inpatient services. Outpatient substance abuse treatment programs allow people to minimize the time spent away from their work and day-to-day responsibilities. Such programs hold regular treatment sessions that don’t interfere with the patient’s work, school, or home schedule. Another benefit of outpatient care is that the patients continue to live at home during treatment, whereas inpatient programming requires that all patients live at the facility for the duration of the program.
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How Long Is Inpatient Rehab at a Luxury Facility?
The length of time you spend at a luxury treatment facility will depend on various factors, including your specific needs and goals, as well as items such as previous and/or severe withdrawal symptoms, medical care needed, and prior relapse history. You may need to find a facility that will help you through different levels of care. Upon initial intake and assessment, your physician will help you determine what the right timeline and treatment plan is for you.
30 Day Rehab Programs
High-end inpatient rehabilitation typically requires a commitment of four weeks or longer. Single-month programs may be offered for relatively mild addictions or serve as a start to longer-term treatment efforts.
60 Day Rehab Programs
The length of time you spend at a luxury treatment facility will depend on various factors, including your specific needs and goals, as well as items such as previous and/or severe withdrawal symptoms, medical care needed, and prior relapse history. You may need to find a facility that will help you through different levels of care. Upon initial intake and assessment, your physician will help you determine what the right timeline and treatment plan is for you.
90 Day Rehab Programs
The length of time you spend at a luxury treatment facility will depend on various factors, including your specific needs and goals, as well as items such as previous and/or severe withdrawal symptoms, medical care needed, and prior relapse history. You may need to find a facility that will help you through different levels of care. Upon initial intake and assessment, your physician will help you determine what the right timeline and treatment plan is for you.
Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?
What to Expect in a Luxury Addiction Treatment Facility
Luxury rehab centers provide the latest in treatment options. Patients typically meet with their program manager upon entering the facility, then they will receive a comprehensive assessment that evaluates the individual’s:2
- Substance abuse patterns.
- Mental status and health.
- Physical condition.
- General medical history.
- Demographics, such as age, culture, ethnicity, language, etc.
- Financial and living situation.
- Level of family support.
- Employment or other social needs.
- Suicide and violence risk.
This information will be used to guide the creation of an individualized treatment plan tailored to meet your unique needs. Throughout your program, the treatment team will continue to re-evaluate your treatment plan as you progress through recovery, and will adjust it if necessary.
How Much Do Luxury Addiction Treatment Programs Cost?
Luxury rehabs typically have costs much greater than those of more traditional centers. These costs cover luxury facilities and additional amenities. Insurance companies often pay for at least some addiction treatment, but the treatment must be deemed medically necessary. The upscale and luxurious amenities of these addiction recovery programs aren’t typically necessary for someone to recover from a substance use disorder. For this reason, health insurance may not cover the full costs of luxury treatment, although they may pay for some of it. Program managers can also help determine financing and payment options for those unable to secure full funding prior to treatment.
How to Pay for a Luxury Addiction Treatment Program
It’s a good idea to look for a luxury drug rehab that provides the treatment that you need at a price you can afford. Many luxury rehab facilities accept health insurance, so it may be beneficial to find one that your insurance policy will cover, either fully or partially.
Does Insurance Cover Drug and Alcohol Rehab Luxury Rehabs?
For those who have insurance, using health insurance to pay for rehab should cover at least some of the cost of addiction treatment. Depending on your individual insurance plan, treatment at a specific facility may or may not be covered. It’s important that you know what is covered prior to attending a rehab. Use the free online insurance coverage checker tool below to find out if your health insurance provides coverage for addiction rehab and other rehabilitation treatment plans for substance abuse recovery.
Check to see if your insurance is in-network
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, March). What are prescription CNS depressants?
- Bouchette D, Akhondi H, Quick J. (2022, January). Zolpidem.
- National Library of Medicine. (2019, February). DailyMed Label: AMBIEN- zolpidem tartrate tablet, film coated.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Food & Drug Administration. (2014). Ambien Label.
- Moore, T.J., Mattison, D.R. (2018, September). Assessment of Patterns of Potentially Unsafe Use of Zolpidem.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.) FDA warns about serious risks and death when combining opioid pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines; requires its strongest warning.
- Centers for Disease Control. (2017, June). Sleep and sleep disorders.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, January). Treatment approaches for drug addiction.
Meredith Watkins
AUTHOR
Meredith Watkins is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in dual diagnoses and eating disorders. She has worked as a clinical editor for online addictions journals and websites, and ghostwritten for numerous medical and addictions professionals.
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