An inability to achieve adequate rest at night creates a huge quality of life issues for many people. Lack of sleep can put you in danger especially if you are operating heavy machinery or driving a car. It is recommended that adults get 6 – 8 hours of sleep nightly. Halcion is one medication prescribed to bring some relief to those struggling with sleep issues. However, though the substance may be helpful in the short-term, problems may arise if use continues beyond that.
How to Tell Someone is Addicted to Halcion
Halcion also referred to by its generic name, triazolam, is in the same class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Besides insomnia, Halcion is also prescribed to treat mental, mood, and other disorders, including, anxiety, aggression, suicidal behavior, schizophrenia, psychosis, and Tourette’s. Other benzodiazepines medications include Xanax, Ativan, and Valium. Halcion is a short-acting benzodiazepine whose effects peak about 2 hours after it is taken. The drug is indicated for use in managing insomnia and just like those others benzodiazepines, Halcoin can be addicting. Prescriptions for Halcion for more than 10 days because of the drug’s potency and addictive potential. You can grow tolerance and Halcion can stop working like it’s supposed to after a week. The more you take Halcion the less effective it will become. After the first week, many people find that the drug doesn’t help them sleep like it used to. This can lead to users increasing their dose in an attempt to regain the drug’s effects. Halcion and all benzodiazepines trigger similar reactions in the body through their effects on the gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA neurotransmitter system. This activity is responsible for the drug’s sedating effects, causing you to experience a sense of relaxation and/or sleepiness. Halcion and other benzodiazepines Is a central nervous system depressant. Signs of Halcion addiction include:
- Drowsiness
- Dilated pupils
- Slow breathing
- Slurred speech
- “Doctor shopping” to acquire more of the drug
- Lack of coordination
- Vomiting
- Isolation
- Legal issues
- No longer participating in former activities
Side Effect of Halcion Addiction
These side effects can be dangerous. Some users report having engaged in activities like driving a car, making food, and having sexual intercourse without actually being conscious during the behavior. Afterward, the users have no recollection of what they did. Some of these unconscious behaviors — which can cause confusion and emotional trauma—are just some of Halcion’s side effects. Other symptoms of Halcion abuse may include:
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Nausea and vomiting
- Impaired coordination
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Memory Problems
- Stomach cramps
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Suicidal thought
- Taking more Halcion than prescribed
- Taking Halcion more often than prescribed
- Using Halcion without a prescription
- Combining Halcion with other substances
Quitting Halcion too abruptly is difficult because of the drug’s intense withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from Halcion can be deadly, so its users should not quit cold turkey. When an addicted person stops taking Halcion, they can experience panic attacks, headaches, nausea, and seizures. These symptoms often cause Halcion users to relapse. Those who are addicted should use a tapering method to quit and medication-assisted treatment at a medical facility is highly recommended and at Evoke Wellness we can provide just that.
Evoke Wellness at Cohasset – Halcion Addiction Help
At one of our Evoke facilities, our goal is to make this detox process as comfortable and safe as possible. We offer a 24-hour medical detox program where our medical staff is available to monitor, medicate, and minimize the withdrawal symptoms. Our physicians will prescribe you with much-needed medications to be as safe and as comfortable as possible during this phase in sobriety. We will regularly monitor your vitals and symptoms to make sure you are healthy and to determine the effectiveness of your detox protocol to ensure you are getting the best care. For more information on medical detox, or to find out what your options are, please feel free to contact us today.
