Sonata Symptoms and Warning Signs

There are countless reasons people struggle to sleep. Sometimes it is stressful life events causing the individual to spend hours and hours staring at the ceiling, unable to nod off. Others might be dealing with overwhelming grief due to the death of a loved one.

Nevertheless, it is vital to get enough sleep as this is the time when the mind and body regenerate so that you are fresh and ready to face the day again upon waking. However, not everyone enjoys a restful sleep. Insomnia is a major sleep disorder and one that comes in many forms. Some people do manage to fall asleep quite quickly but will then wake continuously during the night and never get the restful sleep they need. Others take ages to fall asleep only to wake again a couple of hours later feeling exhausted.

If you suffer from a sleeping disorder such as insomnia, you may have been prescribed a medication called Sonata. Sonata is a sedative drug that can help to improve the quality of sleep. Nevertheless, as with most other sedative drugs, there is potential for abuse with Sonata use. Taking it in a different way than it was intended, or taking it for a prolonged period, could lead to physical dependence and subsequent addiction.

Other Names for Sonata

Sonata is a brand name for the generic drug Zaleplon. Other brand names include:

  • Andante
  • Starnoc

Recognising the Common Warning Signs of Sonata Abuse

If you have been taking Sonata to help you sleep, you may not have even realised that your use has progressed to abuse; most people don’t. This is a drug to which you can build up a tolerance quite quickly, in which case you may be feeling as though you are not getting the same effects that you did when first taking it.

If you have increased your dose of Sonata without first speaking to your doctor to see if such a course of action is okay, you are abusing the drug and putting yourself in danger of potential addiction. Maybe you believe that your medication is completely safe and that taking a higher dose will be harmless. This is rarely the case.

So we have ascertained that drug use becomes drug abuse when you begin taking your medication in a way that it was not intended. But what else do we mean by drug abuse in terms of this medication? Well, for example, if you begin taking Sonata for recreational purposes and perhaps are breaking open the capsules to snort the contents, you are already in need of professional help to get better.

Alternatively, if you find that you cannot function without Sonata and are becoming increasingly preoccupied with it, you more than likely have a problem that requires help. Acting now can prevent your problem from progressing further and could stop you from developing an addiction that might possibly destroy everything you hold dear in your life.

The Dangers of Sonata Abuse

Sonata is a fast-acting drug that induces feelings of calmness, relaxation, and euphoria, which is why it is regularly abused. There are a number of negative side effects associated with the drug, especially associated with engaging in various activities while in a sleep-like state.

Users of Sonata have been known to get into their car and take it out on the road while not being conscious of doing so. Others will get up and eat without knowing it, or even have unprotected sex while still asleep. While having a snack unconsciously may not lead to disastrous consequences, driving a car in this state can obviously have fatal implications.

Unfortunately, those who abuse Sonata often do so by combining it with other substances such as drugs or alcohol. This can result in an overdose, especially if Sonata is taken with other depressants like alcohol or opiates. These substances all have a negative impact on respiratory functions and can slow heart rate. In extreme cases, it can lead to respiratory or heart failure, coma, and even death.

You need to also be aware of the implications that Sonata abuse can have on other areas of life. If you are putting your use of Sonata above everything else, for example, then your relationships with those around you are bound to suffer. It is not possible to maintain healthy relationships if your mind is clouded by substance abuse and addiction.

You could also suffer poor health, relationship problems, money troubles and have a very high risk of losing your job. Seeking help as soon as possible is therefore vital.

Recognising a Sonata Addiction

Drug abuse does not always lead to addiction, but if you are abusing Sonata then your risk for addiction will inevitably be higher. If you have been prescribed Sonata to treat a sleeping disorder like insomnia, you may find it hard to comprehend the fact that your medication could be harmful or addictive.

You might not even realise that you have upped your dose of the drug in response to an increased tolerance to it. Nonetheless

you may find that it is only when you try to quit the medication that you are unable to because you are experiencing strong cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

If you have been abusing Sonata without even realising, you might not notice the way in which your behaviour has started to change. It is typically family members and friends that notice the changes long before the addict does.

You might begin isolating yourself from those around you as you believe they do not understand how you feel. You may want to spend more and more time using Sonata and so are neglecting your responsibilities at home, at work, or at school.

It could also be the case that you are exhibiting poor judgement because of your prescription medication use. Logic dictates that when something is bad for us, we stop doing it. Soit makes sense that if your use of Sonata is causing harm to yourself and those around you, you would simply stop taking it. When it comes to addiction though, things are not that straightforward.

Mood-altering chemicals have a knack for tricking the brain into thinking that they are good by hijacking the pleasure and reward centres. Soeven if you want to stop taking Sonata, you will probably find you are unable to if you have an addiction.

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Sonata Addiction and the Brain

Sonata, like most other hypnotic sedatives, stimulates the brain’s GABA-A receptors, causing the release of the GABA neurotransmitter responsible for inducing feelings of calm and relaxation. GABA also helps to relieve anxiety and stress, leading to feelings of wellbeing.

Learn the Immediate Side Effects of SonataAbuse

Below are some of the immediate side effects associated with Sonata abuse:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Relaxation
  • Euphoria
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Headache
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Sleepwalking
  • Fever
  • Memory loss.

Learn the Long-Term Sonata Abuse Side Effects

Taking Sonata over an extended period is definitely not recommended. It is typically prescribed for short-term use. Nevertheless, those who do take it over a prolonged period can experience side effects such as:

  • an increased risk for addiction
  • heart irregularities
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease.

Intervention for a Sonata Addiction

Sonata use can obviously help those struggling to get to sleep and stay asleep because this is what it is intended for. Due to its potential for abuse and addiction, as discussed extensively above, it is important to be alert to the signs of abuse in someone you know taking this medication.

Knowing what the signs are can help you to act fast, and early intervention is often the key to preventing an addiction from spiralling out of control. If you believe your friend or loved one is abusing Sonata, your immediate reaction might be to do nothing and hope for the best. However, this is unwise.

Addiction is an illness of the brain that will not resolve itself without help, so speak to the affected person in a calm manner and raise the possibility that he or she might have a problem. Even if you are met with firm denials, which you most probably will be, you should tell the person that you are ready and willing to offer support and help if they wish to take you up on it.

Unfortunately, most addicts are unwilling (or unable) to see themselves in this way, especially in the early days, but knowing you are there when needed might be enough to spur them on.

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Detox and Withdrawal from Sonata

While abusing Sonata is obviously dangerous, conversely so too is suddenly stopping it. If you have developed a physical dependence on Sonata, you might suffer withdrawal symptoms when you quit. These can include things such as panic attacks, anxiety, hallucinations, and even seizures. It is important, therefore, that you get help when trying to quit this substance. An effectively managed detox programme will help to ensure that you are at very little risk as you quit your medication.

Treatment and Next Steps

To regain control of your life, you are going to have to quit Sonata and learn how to live without it as well as without all types of mood-altering chemicals. This can be done in a rehabilitation programme either on a residential or day care basis.

Whatever type of rehab programme you eventually choose to attend, the end goal will always be the same; to help you learn what caused your illness and to develop ways of ensuring that you do not find yourself in a similar position again.

Rehabilitation consists of a series of therapies that will either be on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting with other patients and one or more counsellors or therapists.


Questions about Treatment

How do I know whether to choose inpatient or outpatient therapy?

Whether you are treated in an inpatient or outpatient clinic is all a matter of preference and circumstance. It is important that you take several factors into consideration before choosing, such as how severe your addiction is and whether you are likely to be able to stay clean while recovering in the real world. If you think you will struggle to stay clean, an inpatient programme might be your best option.

Nevertheless, if you have plenty of support at home, and if you have a real desire to succeed, you may do very well in an outpatient programme. You also need to think about family and work commitments, your budget, and your individual preferences.

Why can’t my loved one just stop abusing drugs?

Family members and friends are often baffled as to why a loved one continues to abuse prescription drugs, such as Sonata, when doing so is causing such obvious harm in their life. What these individuals do not understand is that certain chemicals can alter the way the brain functions, making it difficult for addicts to think clearly or make good decisions.

Addicts often cannot see what is obvious to everyone else. If your loved one continues to abuse his or her medication despite it causing negative consequences, it is likely that he or she has an addiction and is unable to resist the urge to use.

How long does addiction treatment typically last?

The length of an addiction programme is different for everyone. There is no set rate at which you will progress, and how you respond to treatment will determine how long you are in rehab for.

However, most programmes last for a minimum of four weeks. You might need a longer programme if: you have a severe addiction, are struggling to progress, or if your requirements are more complex and you are suffering from more than one type of addiction or a dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health problem).

Will I be able to exercise during rehab?

Exercise plays an important role in any treatment programme for addiction. The evidence is increasingly showing that staying fit and active can help you to maintain your sobriety upon leaving a rehab clinic.

As part of your treatment programme, you will be given time to exercise regularly, and this will be encouraged. Depending on the clinic where you have treatment, there may be an onsite gymnasium and access to a swimming pool. You could also find that mindful fitness forms a part of your treatment programme, where practices such as yoga and Tai Chi are combined with mindful meditation.

Will I have to have a detox?

It is understandable that you might be fearful of a detox, particularly if you have heard negative things about it. Nevertheless, what you should know is that an effectively-run detox programme can be much easier than you think.

While detox may be unpleasant and you might experience a range of withdrawal symptoms, you should also know that it is an essential part of the recovery process if you have a physical dependence on a chemical substance.

If you are physically addicted to Sonata, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Detoxing in a supervised facility will ensure that this process is easier and safer for you while also meaning that your mind and body is clear and ready to tackle the next part of the process – rehabilitation.

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