What is the Connection Between Withdrawal and Insomnia?

Withdrawal and insomnia are closely connected, as difficulty sleeping is a common symptom of withdrawal and with certain types of drugs, patients can experience what is known as insomnia rebound, where cessation of a drug taken to treat insomnia causes sleeplessness. There are a number of ways to deal with withdrawal and insomnia, and some patients may need medical supervision to safely stop using drugs or medications.

People can experience symptoms of withdrawal when they stop taking recreational drugs, including prescription drugs not used to treat a specific medical condition. It is also possible to go through withdrawal when stopping prescription drugs taken for a legitimate reason like pain or mental illness. In some cases, these symptoms can be fatal if patients abruptly stop taking a drug. Whether people are preparing to stop recreational drug use or getting ready to wean off prescription drugs, it is important to meet with a doctor to discuss the best approach to management.

Withdrawal symptoms can vary, depending on the drugs involved, but withdrawal and insomnia are often seen together. People can have difficulty sleeping because of pain, cravings for drugs, and other issues related to the withdrawal. Insomnia also can be a primary symptom of the dependency withdrawal. This is seen most notably with people who stop taking opiates and other drugs used to treat sleeplessness or induce a sedated state. These patients will experience insomnia rebound as their bodies try to adjust to the lack of medication in the system. People will have trouble getting and staying asleep while they stop taking the drugs.

Insomnia can lead to health problems, and it needs to be addressed. When people experience withdrawal and insomnia, there may be medications available for temporary management of the insomnia, along with techniques like talk therapy to address emotional distress. Also, changes to sleeping habits can help to promote healthy sleep. In some cases, a patient may need to go to a hospital or rehabilitation center for treatment during withdrawal. The personnel at such facilities are familiar with common withdrawal symptoms and can help patients develop and adhere to a plan for drug cessation.

If withdrawal and insomnia become dangerous to a patient's health, it may become necessary to change the treatment plan. The patient can meet with counselors and doctors to talk about the issue and develop an appropriate change of plans. It may take longer to stop taking drugs than was initially anticipated, or the patient may need more interventions to successfully endure the withdrawal period.