If a patient complains of insomnia, it is very often the case that the GP will prescribe one of the drugs containing addictive substances. Drugs containing benzodiazepines, which provide immediate relief from tension, anxiety and stress, are also dangerous.

Do you think you need help or at least want more clarity? Make an appointment for a no-obligation initial and diagnostic consultation or just give us a call, we will be happy to advise you and help you with everything. At our first meeting we will talk about your difficulties, find out the severity of your problems and the possible causes. We will suggest a course of action and, if necessary, select your personal therapist so that he/she not only meets your professional requirements, but also suits you humanly.

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More recent research clearly confirms that professional psychotherapy is the primary treatment for anxiety, sleep and depressive disorders. The therapeutic process is supported by medication only in the most severe cases. Psychopharmaceuticals suppress the manifestations of the psychological problem but do not address the cause.

For example, the consumption of sleeping pills in this country has increased almost six-fold in the last twenty years, and most hypnotics are prescribed by GPs who do not have the time or expertise to address the cause of the problem.

It should be remembered that these drugs are only a short-term solution to the problem and cause dependence with prolonged use.

Every patient should be warned of this risk by his/her doctor; the warning is also included on the package leaflet.

However, many users underestimate this information and some have hypnotics prescribed in parallel by several doctors.

Addiction is initially manifested by the user's tendency to increase consumption of the medication as his or her tolerance to the active substance increases. Zolpidem will no longer help the user to fall asleep in a short time, but it will put him in a state of altered consciousness accompanied by a pleasant mental relaxation.

In this state, there is a change in experience and behaviour, a decline in willpower and a loss of self-control. This is manifested, for example, by binge eating, consumption of additional doses of hypnotics or alcohol, inappropriate social interactions, and it is not uncommon for an otherwise completely responsible person to get behind the wheel under the influence of a sleeping pill

The next day, he or she often remembers nothing or has only fragmentary memories.

The combination of sleeping pills and alcohol is particularly dangerous because the effects of the two substances increase when they interact. In more advanced addiction, anxiety and restlessness during the day occur. The addict is often exhausted and may also experience hot flashes, palpitations, sweating and muscle tension, sometimes even convulsions. His ability to concentrate, performance and resistance to stress are impaired and he suffers from short-term memory problems.

If you or a loved one has been taking hypnotics for a long time and is experiencing any of the symptoms described above, please do not delay seeing a professional.

We have many clients in our care who have gotten out of hand with sleeping pills. If the addiction is not fully developed, it can be dealt with quite effectively by controlled consumption therapy, which in the case of severe sleep disorders is supplemented by other, more appropriate drug therapy in collaboration with a psychiatrist.

At the same time, we address the actual cause of the sleep disorder in therapy.

However, in severe cases, long-term hospitalization and detoxification is necessary. It should be remembered that a person who abuses hypnotics for a long time is, in the true sense of the word, a drug addict.