Restoril Symptoms and Warning Signs

Restoril Info

• Restoril Addiction and Abuse
• Restoril Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Restoril Treatment and Rehab
• Restoril Withdrawal and Detox

Restoril is a brand name for the sedative drug temazepam and is used in the treatment of sleep-related problems. It is part of the benzodiazepine family of drugs and, as with other similar drugs, has a high potential for abuse. It is for this reason that it is typically prescribed for short-term use only. As with most other drugs of this type, taking Restoril in high doses or for prolonged periods can lead to dependence and eventual addiction.

Due to the sedative effects of Restoril, it is a medication that is often abused. Some individuals take it for reasons other than those for which it was intended, usually for recreational purposes. The sense of calm and relaxation induced by Restoril often make it a popular choice for those who also abuse other substances. In high enough doses, it can induce feelings similar to those caused by substances such as alcohol or opiate drugs.

Most medical professionals only prescribe Restoril for no longer than a week as it is possible to develop a tolerance to it quite quickly. However, if a tolerance does develop, you are likely to experience diminished effects when taking the drug. This may cause you to feel the need to increase the dose, but this could then leave you struggling with a crippling addiction.

Other Names for Restoril

As mentioned at the start of this article, Restoril is a brand name for the generic drug temazepam. Other brand names are:

Recognising the Common Warning Signs of Restoril Abuse

Abuse of Restoril can occur without you even being aware of what is happening. This is common with many types of prescription medications, but for the most part, people are just oblivious to what actually constitutes abuse.

One of the earliest signs of Restoril abuse is taking more than the prescribed dose. This will often occur when the body gets used to the drug and you are no longer achieving the relief you once did it.

If you are taking Restoril other than prescribed, you are basically guilty of prescription medication abuse. You might, for example, start crushing your pills before taking them to enhance the effects, or you could mix them with other drugs or alcohol to get the desired effects. You may even be snorting the crushed pills or mixing them with water and then injecting the liquid. Everything we have just mentioned is classic signs of abuse.

Crossing from prescribed use to abuse can be a fine line and you, as many others have discovered, may not even be aware of what is happening until it is too late. If you believe that all medication prescribed by a doctor is safe, you will dismiss the idea that Restoril could be harmful or addictive out of hand. After all, it is just a sleeping pill, right?

The reality is that the potential for abuse is very high with Restoril and you could very easily find yourself struggling with an addiction if you do not spot the signs of abuse and act as soon as possible.

If you are increasingly relying on Restoril and feel that you need it to function, you are almost certainly on the road, to addiction – if not already there.

The Dangers of Restoril Abuse

As we touched upon in the above paragraphs, taking Restoril for purposes other than for which it was intended is dangerous and can lead to health problems as well as overdose. Even those who take it as prescribed are at risk of engaging in activities while still ‘asleep’, such as eating, driving, having conversations, and having sex. Some people have woken up with no knowledge of things they did the night before while abusing this medication.

There have even been cases where those under the influence of Restoril have put themselves and others in harm’s way while they were not fully conscious. Some have woken up in police custody for actions carried out while asleep.

You should also consider how much control you have over your use. If you are starting to rely on Restoril increasingly more to function or to feel a certain way, you probably have an addiction already.

Take some time to think about how your life has changed since you started using Restoril. It is easy to just assume that medications are helping to improve your quality of life, but if you look closely, you may see that your abuse of such drugs is actually at the heart of most of your problems.

You might not be ready to admit this but ask yourself whether your use of Restoril is having a negative impact on your life. If it is, logic would dictate that you quit the medication to get things back on track. But if you have an addiction, this will not be as easy as it sounds. If you have tried to quit or cut back on your Restoril use but found you are unable to do so, it is highly likely that you already have a problem and need professional help to get better.

Restoril Addiction and the Brain

Restoril works much like other benzodiazepine drugs in that it stimulates the production of the GABA neurotransmitter, which is responsible for stabilising certain activity in the brain. In a nutshell, the more GABA in the brain, the more relaxed you will be and the less stressed or anxious you will feel.

Nevertheless, these feelings of relaxation and calmness influence the brain’s reward centres, making you want to recreate these feelings repeatedly.

Learn the Immediate Side Effects of Restoril Abuse

Immediate side effects of Restoril include:

Intervention for a Restoril Addiction

It is important to act as soon as possible if you suspect Restoril abuse or addiction in someone you care for. The signs of addiction may be very clear to you but to the affected person, these may be less obvious. You might find that he or she is not willing to entertain the idea of help, but this should not put you off.

Speak to your loved one about how his or her behaviour has changed since he or she started on Restoril. Try to make him or her see the way in which use of Restoril is having a negative impact on everyone else. It is important to stay calm and collected during these conversations and to show your support. Being confrontational or accusatory can result in the individual outright refusing to accept help. If you need some advice or information on how to intervene, please get in touch with us today and we will help you out.

It is important that you do not detox from Restoril without careful supervision as some of the symptoms associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal can be serious, sometimes even life-threatening. The safest way to withdraw from Restoril is with an effectively managed detox programme within a dedicated facility and under the scrutiny of specialised staff.

Treatment and Next Steps

Overcoming a Restoril addiction is more than just quitting the drug. If you have developed an addiction to your medication, there may be underlying issues that need to be dealt with, particularly if you have been using Restoril as a way to escape certain realities of life.

The treatment for addiction of Restoril takes place in either an outpatient or inpatient facility, but the choice you make of where to receive your treatment will depend on your individual needs and personal preferences. You need to consider what you want from a treatment programme as well as whether you want to get started quickly and have your treatment completed in the quickest time possible.

Inpatient programmes are condensed and intensive and tend to take place in private clinics. They offer immediate access and a distraction-free environment, but there is a cost involved. In contrast, free outpatient programmes are available through the NHS and local charities. However, there are often long waiting lists for treatment and programmes tend to last longer as they are less intensive.

Questions about Treatment

Will my family be involved in the programme?

Family involvement is an important part of the healing process and it is likely that family therapy will be a part of your programme. This will give your family members the chance to deal with any issues that have arisen because of your illness. You will also have the chance to tackle any family issues such as conflict that might have been a contributing factor in the development of your addiction.