Restoril Addiction and Abuse
Restoril Info
What is Restoril?
Restoril, also known by its brand name temazepam, is commonly prescribed by doctors as a treatment for insomnia-related symptoms, including trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This anti-anxiety medication belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Other drugs in this class include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
Restoril works by boosting how the neurotransmitter GABA works in the brain. Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a chemical substance that controls signals moving from one nerve cell to the other. This inhibits some of the activities in the brain and takes away feelings of anxiety to improve sleep.
Other Names for Restoril
Restoril is also known by its generic name – temazepam, and its other brand names are Nortem, Normison, Temaze and Norkotral. In addition, every drug, including prescription drugs illicitly sold and used, has different street or slang names.
These names are used in order to talk about them openly without attracting the attention of parents or police officers. It is therefore crucial to know some of the general language used to refer to benzodiazepines, such as Restoril. Some of its names include Norries, Jellies, Vitamin T, Rugby Balls, Green Devils, and King Kong Pills.
What is Restoril Used For?
Restoril was initially prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication. However, it is also prescribed as a treatment for insomnia and other sleeping problems. Your doctor may also recommend this drug for other conditions as well. It is always important to discuss your need for Restoril with your doctor, and the drug should not be stopped without consulting them.
Restoril can be used by people aged 65 years and above, depending on their need. If you’re struggling with sleep disturbance, an initial dose of 7.5mg may be prescribed to provide an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep, after taking the drug.
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Causes of Restoril Addiction
If you’re abusing Restoril at a very high dosage level, and have done for a long period of time, you may be, or may become, addicted to the medication. Restoril addiction can also develop as a result of tolerance, even if you’re only using low to moderate therapeutic doses.
Escalating your dosage above your doctor-recommended dose levels is also a cause of Restoril addiction. Generally, benzodiazepines like Restoril do not retain their treatment effects after about four months of use. Long-term use may, therefore, worsen symptoms which may lead to dosage escalation.
How Addictive is Restoril?
Restoril can result in drug addiction. You can develop a physical and mental tolerance to it within three days. This means you’ll need to continue taking higher doses in order to achieve the same effects. After you become addicted to Restoril, you’ll need to go through a challenging period of withdrawal to overcome it.
Restoril addictionis quite common in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. The drug is classified as a Schedule IV Controlled Substance. This means even though it has legitimate medical use, Restoril has some potential for addiction.
Addictive Properties of Restoril
Benzodiazepines in general, and Restoril specifically, can be extremely addictive. This is why care must be taken when you’re using the medication for treatment purposes. If you have a history of substance abuse, Restoril can cause a powerful chemical dependency after more than two weeks of use.
The longer you use this medication, the more tolerance you develop. It’ll therefore take a higher dosage to achieve similar effects each time you use. You may begin to find it challenging to go about your normal daily activities without taking Restoril.
Methods of Using Restoril
Restoril is a short-acting benzodiazepine. It is commonly prescribed as a way to reduce anxiety or to help you sleep better. The methods of using Restoril vary greatly depending on the purpose for treatment. The medication is manufactured as a gel-filled capsule, designed to be taken orally.
What Does It Mean to Be Addicted to Restoril?
Long-term Restoril abuse leads to tolerance, and you may begin to experience physical dependence followed by addiction. Restoril could cease to produce any noticeable effects after a while, but usage is continued to avoid experiencing severe and unpleasant side effects.
If you’re addicted to Restoril you may display a range of symptoms. Your sleep pattern may become disordered, so that during the day you may appear drowsy. Amnesia may also occur, in which you perform an everyday activity with no recollection of having carried it out.
Spotting Restoril Abuse
While physicians can prescribe Restoril for legitimate medical conditions, this drug is one of the most commonly-abused drugs out there. You’re abusing Restoril when you use it without a prescription to feel its sedative or intoxicating effects.
Short-term use of Restoril is generally safe and effective, but prolonged use or long-term abuse can result in tolerance and dependence. Restoril abuse and withdrawal can be very dangerous, and may be fatal in some cases. Medical treatment is therefore essential to safely quit Restoril abuse.
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Restoril Abuse Signs and Symptoms
When not taken as recommended by a doctor, Restoril abuse can manifest with several signs and symptoms. These symptoms depend on the amount abused, and on the length of abuse. The most common Restoril abuse signs and symptoms include:
- Difficulty controlling the compulsion to use Restoril
- Continued abuse despite the harm being caused
- Needing higher doses to achieve similar effects from the original dose
- Neglecting personal interests and other responsibilities in order to obtain and use Restoril
Health Risks from Restoril Addiction
Restoril is a brand of Temazepam, prescribed as a short-term treatment (7 to 10 days), for insomnia. Because of its potency, it is not meant for long-term use. Like any other drug, it has the potential for health risks. For example, it can result in drowsiness, leading to dizziness and coordination problems.
In addition, when Restoril is combined with other drugs, the health risks are even higher as the risk of overdose increases alongside them. Restoril addiction may involve heating the gel from the capsule and injecting it. However, the gel may then solidify in the bloodstream, leading to blocked veins and other severe injuries.
Short-Term Effects of Restoril
Restoril is prescribed for calmness, relaxation, and relief from tension and anxiety. In several cases, it can lead to certain short-term effects, which vary based on the dose and on your personal metabolism. These effects can include: dizziness, over-sedation, and loss of coordination.
Restoril can also affect your cognition, even if you’re taking it as prescribed. While under the influence, it’s dangerous to operate heavy machinery, because of the drug’s potential for causing side effects related to motor function. There is also the possibility of being involved in a car accident when abusing Restoril.
Long-Term Effects of Restoril
Ingesting multiple doses of Restoril over an extended period of time can lead to long-term effects. These can include: depression and mood disorders, disruption of natural sleeping patterns, anxiety, and memory loss.
Large doses of Restoril can cause conditions that are similar to the issues the drug was originally prescribed to treat. If you’re abusing Restoril, you are more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety and insomnia, than someone not abusing the drug. According to studies, using Restoril can also increase your potential for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Withdrawal Effects of Restoril Abuse
The withdrawal effects of Restoril abuse can vary, based on different factors – the strength of the dose, length of time you’ve been using it, and your personal reaction to the drug. Some of the most common effects of withdrawal include confusion, hallucinations, mood swings and uncharacteristic aggression.
You could also experience abdominal cramps, temporary agoraphobia, suicidal thoughts, restlessness, depression, sleep disruption, and changes in blood pressure. These withdrawal effects might be heightened by the fact that you’re likely to also be taking the drug in particularly high and frequent doses, to avoid unpleasant effects.
Co-Occurring Disorders
It is not uncommon for Restoril addiction and abuse to occur with additional mental health disorders. This mental illness may or may not have developed as a result of your addiction. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders include: depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and other substance abuse problems.
It is important to identify any co-occurring disorders, and treat them alongside substance use disorder. Therefore, if you’re abusing Restoril and other drugs together, Restoril abuse and addiction should be treated together with other types of treatment for your co-occurring substance use.
Who is at Risk for Restoril Addiction?
Even though it’s possible to have a genetic tendency towards developing drug addiction, there is no single cause for it. However, abuse of benzodiazepine drugs such as Restoril is more common among women. This is because they are more likely to be prescribed, and have more exposure to, it than men.
In addition to gender, other risk factors include the elderly age group. Doctors may inappropriately recommend the drug for elderly individuals experiencing depression. Environmental factors also play a significant role as well. These include unemployment, peer pressure, and socio-economic status.
Teen Restoril Abuse and Addiction
Anti-anxiety drugs or sleep medications like Restoril may be prescribed to teens experiencing insomnia and other forms of sleep disturbance problems. Studies show that teens who receive prescription pills to aid sleep are 12 times more likely to engage in drug abuse within 2 years.
In addition, it can be quite easy for teens to obtain Restoril. Just like adults, they may develop obsessive drug-seeking behaviours, such as doctor shopping, stealing or forging prescriptions, and lying about symptoms to get more prescriptions for Restoril.
Cost of Restoril Addiction
If you, or someone you know, is suffering from Restoril addiction, you’ll know that it can put a serious strain on the emotions of you and your loved ones. Restoril addiction can take an emotional toll on both your personal and professional life. In addition, your drug habit can cause serious physical harm, and you may have to live with the consequences of that harm for the rest of your life.
While the physical consequences are usually the first things that come to mind
when it comes to the cost of Restoril addiction its effects can also be seen in other areas of life. These include: job loss, financial and legal problems, declining mental and physical health, and dulled emotions.
The Effects of Restoril Abuse on the Brain and Body
If you’re using Restoril in ways other than prescribed, you may notice physical effects such as muscle weakness and a lack of coordination. The drug also has a strong effect on the brain and memory. Abusing this drug, therefore, can lead to amnesia, or experiencing difficulties in creating new memories after a while.
This may be experienced in the form of a blank space in your memory, but as more of the drug is ingested, you may start to experience extended periods of “blacking out”. Ingesting extremely large doses of Restoril can also stunt learning, making it difficult for the brain to form new memories or retain information.
Relationship between Restoril and Other Substances
Using Restoril with certain other drugs such as Xyrem (prescribed to treat symptoms of narcolepsy), can lead to a range of side effects. These include: severe drowsiness/dizziness, slow or shallow breathing, and low blood pressure. Generally, the effects will be severe if Restoril is used with other drugs that cause drowsiness.
In addition, consuming grain alcohol (ethanol) with Restoril can lead to certain side effects affecting the nervous system, such as difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, and dizziness. You can also experience impaired thinking and judgment. If you’re taking anxiety or sleep medication, muscle relaxants or narcotic pain relievers, you should let your doctor know.
Restoril Overdose Explained
Death from drug overdose usually occurs as a result of a combination of drugs in the body – usually alcohol and central nervous depressants. Restoril overdose can be fatal, especially when consumed with alcohol. It is important to seek emergency medical help if you’ve taken more than you should of your Restoril medication.
Restoril overdose symptoms may include slow heartbeat, lightheadedness, extreme drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, muscle weakness, shallow breathing, convulsions or seizures, and coma. Emergency medical help for Restoril overdose will include inducing vomiting or pumping your stomach to get rid of the drugs.
What to Do If You Need Help Quitting
If you’ve been using Restoril for an extended period of time, you might need help to quit, because of the strong dependence it can cause. As soon as you commit yourself to recovery, there are several treatment choices to consider, including detoxification, therapy, and whether you want to undergo inpatient or outpatient treatment.
If you need help quitting, reach out for support. There are patient addiction treatment specialists ready to help you. It’s important to know that recovery takes time, motivation, and support. A professional treatment centre can provide you with encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear, in addition to a comprehensive treatment program to help you overcome the addiction.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
Restoril Withdrawal
Restoril withdrawal can occur as acute withdrawal or protracted withdrawal. In acute withdrawal, your symptoms are usually apparent and will appear in a more severe form. During post-acute withdrawal, less severe symptoms continue for a prolonged period of time.
Benzodiazepines such as Restoril will usually cause protracted or ongoing withdrawal symptoms. Restoril addiction can cause physical and psychological symptoms and, in some cases, these can be severe. Severe Restoril withdrawal can include severe depression, suicidal thoughts, tremors, seizures, and convulsions.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
Rebound symptoms are extremely common during Restoril withdrawal. Rebound refers to a recurrence of symptoms that the drug was initially prescribed to treat. Typically, these rebound symptoms will be more severe than they were before you started to use the drug.
The most common of these is insomnia. Your insomnia during Restoril withdrawal is likely to be more severe than before starting the medication. Other symptoms you can expect during withdrawal include anxiety, agitation, tremors, nausea, panic attacks, irritability, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, sweating, depersonalisation, dizziness, and aches and pains.
Duration of Withdrawal
There are several factors that can affect the duration of your Restoril withdrawal. These include the way your body reacts to the drug, how heavily you’ve used it, and how long you’ve used it. Other factors, such as whether or not you have co-occurring mental health disorders or addictions, can also determine your length of withdrawal.
Restoril Withdrawal Timeline
Around 1 to 4 days after quitting Restoril, you may experience a serious issue known as drug-rebound. This typically occurs at the beginning stages of Restoril withdrawal. In some cases, simply thinking about how you may be unable to get and use the drug anymore can cause severe feelings of panic and anxiety.
After 4 days of Restoril abstinence, the most intense withdrawal symptoms may occur. These symptoms can last between 10 to 14 days, and may include: muscle cramps, abdominal pain, trembling, sweating, vomiting, anxiety, headaches, irritability, and heart palpitations.
Restoril Addiction Treatment
If you’re struggling with Restoril addiction and abuse, you’ll need to enter into a formal treatment programme for substance use disorders. Since there is a high chance that you’ve become physically dependent on Restoril, the first step in treatment involves ridding your body of the substance.
Usually, this involves getting you into a professional withdrawal management programme. It also involves close supervision by an addiction specialist – a physician, psychiatrist, or other type of expert trained to carry out medical detoxification.
Therapy for Restoril Addiction
Restoril addiction therapy involves undergoing treatment by a licensed therapist. This therapist is trained in modern techniques of substance abuse treatment and addiction recovery. Therapy can be carried out in individual or group therapy sessions. Many treatment centres provide a combination of both group and individual therapy.
During your therapy sessions, you’ll learn how you can cope with your craving for Restoril
also learn how to develop practical skills that can help you break free of addiction.If you’re experiencing underlying co-occurring disorders, your therapist might also address these, so you’ll be less likely to resort to using drugs.
Possible Complications
Restoril slows down your heartbeat, breathing rate, and metabolism. In addition, the drug should not be taken with other stimulants that provide contrary effects. This could worsen depression or result in an overdose.
When taking Restoril, possible complications can occur when one of the following drugs is combined:
- Antibiotics
- Nicotine
- Dioxin
- Seizure drugs
- Drugs for mental illness
When to Contact a Medical Professional
If the thought of entering a rehab programme fills you with dread, it’s essential to understand that these programmes are meant to help you regain your life. If you’re taking Restoril and experiencing some of the common withdrawal symptoms, contact a medical professional immediately. You should also seek help when you want to quit using Restoril, as it can be dangerous to withdraw without medical help.
Rehab could be the best thing that ever happened to you. There’s no punishment and misery involved. Medical professionals can help you feel connected again and give you the necessary guidance to turn your life around.
Restoril Recovery Plan
As with several other addictive medications, your body eventually becomes accustomed to Restoril, to an extent that it begins to rely on the drug to function normally. Your Restoril recovery plan will therefore involve a comprehensive process of detox, rehab, and aftercare in order to be successful.
If you’re already severely addicted to Restoril, you can seek treatment in a specialised treatment centre. There you can get clean from the drug, under the close monitoring of addiction experts. They’ll also help you deal with the reasons for your addiction and plan effective strategies to prevent relapse.
Restoril Abuse Detox
This is an important step to regaining a drug-free life. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be severe or even deadly, which is why a monitored tapering schedule is essential.During this time, you’ll be slowly taken off Restoril under the supervision of professionals.
Medications and holistic therapies can be provided to ensure your comfort and safety. A comprehensive Restoril abuse detox is important before starting addiction treatment. Treatment can also be started to deal with any mental health conditions before moving into drug rehab.
Medical Detox for Restoril
Medical detox allows you to undergo withdrawal in a way that involves the least amount of physical and mental discomfort. Usually, doctors employ a tapering method involving the gradual reduction of your Restoril dosage while administering longer-acting benzodiazepines. During medical detox, other drugs may also be administered to reduce the severe effects that can occur during withdrawal.
It is crucial to understand that Restoril withdrawal can be potentially dangerous, due to the possibility of seizures. Therefore, if you’re withdrawing from this medication, it’s important to only do so under the care of a qualified addiction specialist.
Restoril Addiction Statistics
- There are over 30 different forms of benzodiazepine medication, and Restoril (Temazepam) is the most abused.
- In the UK, the standard length of time that Restoril is prescribed for is 2 to 4 weeks,with 10-30mg as the standard dose prescribed for insomnia treatment.
- Restoril ‘kicks in’ in about 10-20 minutes, but this is dependent on you and your tolerance level.
- Restoril effects should last between 6 and 8 hours, but this also depends on you and on how long you’ve used the drug.
FAQs
What is Restoril?
Restoril is a sedative-hypnotic (sleep) medicine. It works by producing calming effects and targeting chemicals in the brain that may cause sleep problems resulting from imbalance.
How is Restoril Used?
Restoril is used to treat insomnia and certain other sleep problems. Usually, this medication is limited to only short-term use, about 1 to 2 weeks, or even less in some cases.
What Does Restoril Look Like?
At the moment, this medication comes in the form of a capsule with strengths of 7.5 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg.
Is Restoril Addictive?
Restoril can be addictive when it’s used for longer than prescribed. Prolonged use of this drug can lead to dependence and, ultimately, addiction.
Who Abuses Restoril?
Generally, Restoril is abused by those struggling with a sleep problem and by others using it to get “high”.
How Can I Spot Restoril Addiction?
There are several signs that can be used to spot Restoril addiction. They include doctor shopping, compulsive use, risky behaviour, withdrawal symptoms and legal problems.
If you notice any of these signs, seek professional treatment immediately.
Is Restoril Harmful?
As a benzodiazepine drug, Restoril can be quite harmful. Combining it with alcohol can result in alcohol poisoning, which may have deadly results. Allergic reactions to the drug can also result in anaphylaxis.
Where Else Can I Find Help?
If you need help with Restoril addiction and abuse, there are several qualified treatment centres you can get in touch with.
How do People Abuse Restoril?
Restoril abuse begins when it’s used for reasons other than for its medical purpose. This includes recreational use, or combining Restoril with other stimulants. Restoril abuse can cause a worsening of depression and overdose.
What is Restoril Dependence?
Like other benzodiazepine drugs, Restoril can cause physical dependence and addiction. At this stage, you can begin to experience withdrawal symptoms which resemble alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal symptoms.
Why is This Drug Addictive?
Restoril causes a “high”, or a rush of euphoria, in addition to feelings of calm and relaxation. It also significantly increases dopamine levels, which is what makes it so addictive.
External Links List
- https://addictionresource.com/drugs/restoril/restoril-addiction-signs/
- https://www.alternativetomeds.com/benzodiazepine/restoril/
- https://www.recoveryfirst.org/prescription-abuse/restoril/
- https://dualdiagnosis.org/restoril-addiction/
- https://www.rehabcenter.net/temazepam/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/temazepam
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