Sleeping Aids for Individuals in Recovery from Substance Abuse The use of any medication that has the potential for misuse or abuse is of critical consideration when working with individuals in recovery. Specifically, if an individual is open with a counselor, prescribing physician, or psychiatrist, about their past substance abuse and dependency, they in turn have placed a large amount of trust in these professionals related to appropriate treatment and decision-making. One of the primary issues facing individuals recovering from substance abuse, particularly in the early stages, is that of insomnia or sleep disorders. Kolla et Al. (2014) noted that while 47% of individuals in the beginning of recovery experience insomnia, this number …show more content…
According to Jones, Knutson, and Haines (2003), when treating individuals in recovery, nonpharmacological treatment should be the first line of treatment, with a heavy emphasis on the avoidance of mood-altering substances.
Position on Topic My position on the topic with this population (and any population for that matter) is that just as with benzodiazepines for generalized anxiety disorder, alternative options should be initially explored. Jaffe et Al. (2004) discussed the higher abuse potential for benzodiazepines when compared to non-benzodiazepine hypnotic sleeping medications, such as zolpidem, although there is still abuse potential. One medication group that was noted as having virtually no abuse potential, specifically with recovering individuals, was antihistamines, which could include diphenhydramine and hydroxyzine (Jaffe et Al., 2004). In a recovering individual without any comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, these should be considered a good initial course of action, along with lifestyle changes and natural remedies, such as melatonin, a naturally occurring option with proven benefits related to improved sleep latency and quality (Perry, Alexander, Liskow, & DeVane, 2007) Since sleep has been demonstrated as so important in early recovery, it is important that it is addressed. What is even more important, are potential other
Sleep is important not only for promoting healing, but also for the overall well-being of the individual. When there are problems with the sleeping pattern, it impacts the overall health and safety of the older adult. The person will not have enough rest and will be too tired to perform activities surrounding daily living. We have to assess the risk factors contributing to the problems of sleep disturbance and these might be “related to poor sleep hygiene, including an irregular sleep schedule, environmental noise or light, and the use of stimulants” (Mauk, 2014, p. 581). If the sleeping pattern is not assessed, possible complications will happen, such as falls that could lead to bodily injuries.
Some genes, including damage-inducing ones involved in stress reactions, were amplified.” “ 30% of civilian adults in the U.S. say they get six or fewer hours of sleep. That suggests that millions of people might be sustaining damage to their bodies.” (16). In order to get enough sleep, Brown demonstrates in the article that we can not drink beverages with caffeine. “But caffeine “gums up the signal” that tells the brain when it need more sleep, fooling people into thinking that they’re getting plenty of rest, Czeisler said.”(19). Some researchers did some test. For example, “Further analysis revealed that genes involved in inflammation, immunity and protein damage were activated, suggested that tissue harm was occurring after sleep deprivation. Many of the down-regulated genes, in contrast, were involved in producing new protein, cells and tissues. The balanced process of tissue renewal seemed to be disrupted by insufficient
Only ten percent of people who struggle with substance use disorder in the United States seek a form of treatment, and only forty percent of that small percentage is successful after just one year (Bowen et al., 548). This issue spreads far beyond the borders of the United States, because approximately three and a half million drug addicts can be found in China alone (Min et al., 142). It becomes obvious that far more research is needed in the field of treatment for substance use disorders to improve these statistics. As noted, there is extreme need for more reliable treatment for people who suffer from substance use disorder. Criteria for substance use disorder will be discussed, as well as research that has been conducted on relapse
In the article “Sleepless in Stepdown” written by Joanne Matukaitis, MSN, RN, FABC, NE-BC; Thea Eckman, MSN, RN, CCRN; Kristan Baxter, BSN, CCRN-CSC; Elisabeth Bradley, MS, RN, APN; Helen Hawrylack, BSN, CCRN; Sharmila Johnson, MSN, RN, APN, CCRN; Ruth Mooney, PhD, MN, RN-BC; Donna Papanicolas, RN, and Patricia Brigss, MSN, RN, CCRN, HTP, discuss issues of possible sleep disturbances in the recovery process in the hospital. Their theory basically says that sleep disturbances may lead to extended stays in the hospital, but also how the patient recovers in the process. The authors’ also address the fact that physiologic, behavioral, and functional outcomes may also be influenced by sleep disturbance.
For those who suffer from substance abuse, there are often groups and programs created to help maintain sobriety, learn life lessons, relapse avoidance, and NA/AA groups, geared to work with both the mental illness as well as the addiction. In these clinics and facilities, there are often medication evaluations and consultations available, to monitor and help maintain medication adherence, and broaden understanding of the particular medications taken by patients. This
In addition to taking stimulants, Wunder explains that most patients suffering from narcolepsy also have to take anti-depressants to maintain alertness and avoid excessive amounts of fatigue, loss of muscle tone and strength, and sleep paralysis. Some of the anti-depressants prescribed to narcoleptic patients includes: “imipramine (Tofranil), desimpramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).” Scientists and researchers are able to make more advanced medicines to make life more livable for those who have narcolepsy. Hopefully, narcoleptic patients will soon be able to live a life without having to worry about suddenly falling asleep and missing the events occurring in their lives.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there are about 100,000 of deaths per year and there are approximately 8 million people in the United States who have a substance abuse problem (CDC, 2015). A better understanding and greater attention to the commonly abused substance and its treatment would be beneficial in a provider's practice and will also protect the provider from the legalities of prescribing these medications. There are several forms of treatment for every abused substance and the main goal is to help the patient to stop the stop and helping them during the phase of withdrawal. The intent of this paper is to discuss the commonly used substance for abuse and its treatment with the implications
In spite of the concerns associated with antidepressants and their negative impact with certain therapy medicines and their potentially addictive qualities, they are still regularly used in drug rehabilitation. That's because their positives still outweigh the negatives, especially when dealing with the mental illness that often comes with illicit drug
Although the treatment of choice for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is Cognitive Therapy Disorder, medications administration is often accompanied. Medications can consist of Anti-depressants, buspirone, benzodiazepines or other medications such as pregabalin, opipramol, and hydroxyzine which are not well studied. The first line medications in treatment are Anti-depressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Which are one of the safest among the prescribed medications for generalized anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepines are often prescribed with the antidepressant because of the length of time it takes for the antidepressant to take effect (mayoclinic, 2017). Side effects
Anxiolytics are medications that decrease anxiety while hypnotics promote sleep. Some medications termed benzodiazepines are effective and used predominantly for anxiety but aid sleep due to having sedating properties. Benzodiazepine intended uses are for anxiety (general, panic, anticipatory and anxiety secondary to stress), sleep, side effects of other medications, agitation, alcohol and other sedative/hypnotic withdrawal and muscle spasms. Benzodiazepines include diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam and alprazolam where all possess addictive properties. Other medications useful in treating anxiety without sedating properties include buspirone and D-cycloserine.
I enjoyed reading your post. Brett and Murnion (2015) recognizes the harm of benzodiazepine dependence; it is accounted for cognitive decline and falls in the elderly, not to mention, increased mortality and morbidity rate due to overdosing with these type of medication. I agree with Celso, these drugs are commonly used for insomnia and anxiety.
The function of sleep is to promote restoration. The human body accumulates damages due to impact strain and from reactive oxygen species that damage cells and buildup during times of activity (Sleep-wake cycle, 2006). During sleep, most of the body's systems are in an anabolic state, helping to restore the immune, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems (Sleep-wake cycle, 2006). Most of the body has restorative processes that can supplement the restorative processes that happen during sleep for long periods of time, but the brain is more reliant on regular intervals of sleep for restoration as quiescent restoration is insufficient (Sleep-wake cycle, 2006). When the body does not get enough sleep, most body functions work at diminished capacity. (Brain Basics, 2017). Sleep deprivation is defined as obtaining inadequate sleep to support adequate daytime alertness (Kryger, Roth, & Dement, 2005). The pathological effects of sleep deprivation can lead to undesirable physiologic
Sleep is one of the unavoidable daily-living activities and it is one of the most important factors contributing to a person’s health. A quality sleep is essential for the physical, cognitive and psychological well-being of a person. Learning, memory processing and maintenance of the brain are among the most important functions of sleep. In addition to maintaining the brain, sleep has important roles in controlling the
One of the most traditional and known ways to recover exhausted organism is sound sleep, which has to last more than 8 hours. Due to the fact that most of the restorative functions such as tissue repair, muscle growth, protein synthesis, and growth hormone are conducted during sleep, scientists consider
The use of recreational drugs including, nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol, are powerful effects on sleep. Each effect differs from individual to individual due to the amount they intake or ingest as well as their stamina towards the drug itself. All three drugs, however, can be combined to cause even more effects. If in a trial, someone says they have poor sleep at night, asking if they are on said drugs may be why their sleep habits are so ill. Although, if they reply with they are not on drugs, the reason of their insomnia can probably be determined to be other causes–for example anxiety, depression, or distractions. A period of sobriety of drugs for a few weeks may presume their sleep patterns to resume back to regular, only if they were