Addiction to psychotropic drugs: Symptoms, causes, and solutions

Self-medication can be harmful to health, but the fact is that if, in addition, abuse of certain drugs can fall into a serious addiction. We talked about the psychotropic drugs, to which is often used for better sleep or for anxiety, but should never be taken without prescription.

We should use it in exceptional circumstances, and not as a habit, because not only our body will get used and we will have to gradually increase the dose, but this abuse can seriously affect our health. Almost involuntarily we fall into a vicious and dangerous cycle of which will be difficult to get out without help. Let’s see more closely what the symptoms, causes and treatment for this dependence are.

Psychotropic

Be especially careful with the drugs which can be addictive. Drugs, in general, can be divided into three broad categories: neuroleptics and antipsychotics; antidepressants and anxiolytics. The addiction begins in the most innocent way, in so to speak, taking an anxiolytic, for example, in moderate doses frequently limited to combat anxiety or insomnia.

However, in some cases, when anxiety does not subside, we can fall into the temptation of increasing the dose that will make us more vulnerable to addiction. An increase in the dose is a dangerous mechanism. In addition, some drugs, if taken for a long time can trigger a mechanism of tolerance; to achieve the desired effect, i.e. it is necessary to increase the dose. All this directly affects the quality of life; it begins to be influenced by drugs or pills.

Symptoms

The dependence of psychoactive drugs is comparable to addiction. First, the psychotropic drug becomes a constant need from day to day, having to get by any means, even at the cost of breaking the rules, such as forging prescriptions. Another typical symptom is the reluctance: those suffering from this addiction avoided talk with friends and family, feel a little embarrassed and often do not want to admit they have a problem.

The typical symptoms include an abnormal increased sweating, tachycardia and hyperhidrosis of the hands, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, visual, tactile and auditory hallucinations, seizures.

Causes

It is not a disease but a condition where various risk factors, such as age, because with statistics in hand, the use and abuse of anti-anxiety drugs progressively increases with age, especially among women. In fact, it is estimated that about one in after 65 years in four women take tranquilizers.

Treatment

A slight addiction can be treated without major problems leaving psychotropic drugs gradually. It is advisable to consult the doctor to help us. The first step is the consult with the doctor to see if there are other psychopathological states, along with the abuse of psychotropic drugs, such as depression. Then prescribe a specific treatment with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

The detoxification, in general, is realized by the progressive reduction of the administered drug, through a gradual reduction in the dose to be distributed over several weeks. After treatment, it is essential to go to periodic review by the specialist.