Seconal is a barbiturate derivative that at one time was the most widely abused prescription sleeping pill in the United States. The medication is still in use and the risk of addiction is still acute for those who take it for more than a short period of time for insomnia, or who consume it for recreational purposes. Seconal dependency is a serious medical condition that requires rapid intervention, but those who seek out treatment usually have excellent odds of recovery.
Seconal is the brand name for a drug known as secobarbital sodium, a barbiturate derivative that is sometimes prescribed for insomnia. In addition to its use as a sleep remedy, Seconal may also be prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy, or as an anti-anxiety medication for people scheduled to undergo surgery.
Seconal was a highly popular sleeping pill in the 1970s, until its capacity for causing rapid addiction became apparent. Surprisingly, Seconal has now made a comeback, thanks to growing concerns over the addictive qualities of other widely prescribed sleeping medications, especially those in the benzodiazepine class.
No one who takes Seconal should use it for longer than one or two weeks. This drug can be an effective remedy for insomnia during its most acute stage, but taking it for an extended period is liable to lead to dependency.
Seconal is a sedative that works by slowing activity in the central nervous system. In doing so, it can boost the brain’s supplies of the neurotransmitter GABA, which produces the soothing and deeply relaxing effects that give Seconal its utility as a sleep medication.
In 2016, there were approximately half a million people in the United States who misused Seconal or other sedatives. While these numbers are relatively low in comparison to benzodiazepines, that is because barbiturates are used far less frequently and not because their addictive qualities are any less advanced.
Among those who develop Seconal addiction, some begin using it for sleep and come to crave it more and more as their use escalates. Others abuse it recreationally, often in mixture with other drugs that produce similar relaxing effects.
According to one study, between four and five percent of hospital emergency department visits related to drug abuse involve barbiturates, which is a striking number for a drug class that supposedly went out of style four decades ago.
When an individual has been diagnosed with Seconal addiction, fast and effective treatment is essential.
You should never attempt to stop using Seconal without some type of professional supervision. Your doctor can recommend a safe plan, but if you are already experiencing addiction you may need more specialized care. Your recovery journey at Alta Mira begins with safe, supervised detox.
For most drugs of abuse, detox triggers uncomfortable, painful withdrawal symptoms. The risks of going through withdrawal include relapse in response to these symptoms. For Ativan and other benzodiazepines, however, there are even more dangerous risks. Seconal withdrawal causes anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate. It may also trigger seizures.
To safely detox, you need 24-hour supervision with medical care. Not only will this protect you if more serious side effects arise, but the right care helps you go through this difficult process more comfortably. With symptoms under control, you’ll be ready to begin your personalized treatment plan.
Effective treatment for Seconal addiction takes into account each individual’s unique needs, limitations, and strengths. At Alta Mira, you will go through a thorough evaluation to determine the foundation for a specialized treatment plan. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment here. Every resident benefits from therapies and other approaches that best meet their needs.
Luxury Seconal addiction treatment at Alta Mira includes a variety of strategies. You’ll receive individual behavioral therapy, group therapy, and support, and have the option to bring in your family for sessions. Experienced therapists will help you dig deeper to address all the issues in your life that have contributed to addiction: past traumas, relationship challenges, grief and loss, spirituality, and more.
The best treatment for addiction to Seconal is ongoing. Relapse is a very real possibility, no matter how hard you work while a resident at Alta Mira. To minimize the risk of relapse and to ensure long-term wellness, we offer continuing care that doesn’t stop when you walk out the residence doors.
Our care team will coordinate your continuing treatment or therapy sessions and help develop a plan for your future. You can also participate in free support group meetings, regular check-ins, and quarterly renewals through our amazing alumni group. Consider substance use disorder to be a chronic illness, and it’s easier to understand how important these ongoing sessions are to long-term recovery.
Secobarbital sodium will work against insomnia, as long as doses are carefully controlled and use is restricted to the terms of the initial prescription, which generally will run for no more than two weeks.
But the drug can be extremely addictive when use continues. Tolerance quickly builds, and users are forced to increase dosages to experience the same sensations.
Seconal addiction is both physical and psychological in nature, and some of the symptoms that betray its presence include:
These are all signs that indicate excessive Seconal consumption, which is a recipe for inevitable disaster.
Chronic insomnia is the greatest risk factor for Seconal addiction. Men and women who struggle with sleeplessness over a prolonged period may be strongly tempted to misuse sleeping pills, and that is often what happens when the person has access to barbiturates.
Anyone who takes a prescription medication for sleeping problems could slip into addiction. But even among this group, there are some people who are more at risk for drug dependency than others. Additional risk factors for Seconal addiction include:
A 2012 study by the Sleep Research Society found that about 45 percent of people with one mood or anxiety disorder had accompanying insomnia, and those who had two or more such disorders had insomnia 60 percent of the time. Among those who have PTSD, which is now classified as a trauma and stressor-related disorder rather than an anxiety disorder, 70 percent report problems with insomnia or other sleep-related conditions.
Since these conditions tend to be chronic, the sleeplessness they cause is usually chronic as well, and that can easily lead to Seconal abuse if the medication is prescribed (or even if the person attempts to self-medicate using illicitly obtained Seconal).
In some instances, people who become dependent on Seconal were recreational users already suffering from an addiction to alcohol, illicit drugs, or some other type of prescription medication. Combining drugs in this way is clearly a risk factor for Seconal addiction, and in general drug mixing is extremely dangerous and can lead to a fatal overdose if treatment for drug dependency is not sought.
During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your Seconal addiction.
For many, treatment at Alta Mira begins with private, medically supervised detox. During this time, our detox specialists will keep you safe and secure, as you rest in the privacy of your own room.
You can also expect:
Following stabilization, clients move on to the next phase of their recovery process at Alta Mira, which includes:
Lasting change takes time. It can take six weeks to change a simple habit. Changing behavior following Ativan addiction can be very challenging. Learning how to develop clean and sober behaviors, effectively deal with triggers and stressors, take medication as prescribed, and make healthy lifestyle changes to support long-term recovery can take time.
We understand that in order for treatment to be successful, we must listen closely and truly understand your needs, aspirations, personal history, and treatment goals. All members of our care team align closely with you so that you feel safe, respected, and ready to do your work. With this approach, Alta Mira co-creates a profound healing experience with you so you can achieve your recovery goals and reclaim your life.
We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated Seconal rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class Seconal addiction specialists.
Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.
Don’t let Seconal control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.
While benzodiazepines have gained a reputation for potency, in the sleeping pill category it is barbiturates that pose the greater risk for a deadly overdose.
Overdoses can occur easily when a person is abusing barbiturate medications like Seconal. Extreme respiratory depression is the mechanism by which Seconal can cause death, and symptoms of significant distress may be apparent 15-30 minutes after a person has taken a potentially lethal dosage.
Besides obvious respiratory distress, other signs of a possible Seconal overdose include severe grogginess and unresponsiveness, the inability to stand up or move around, slurred speech and blurry vision, extreme mental confusion, and a loss of consciousness.
If a Seconal overdose is suspected, action should be taken immediately. Failure to summon emergency personnel at the first sign of trouble could cost critical minutes and put the person’s life in jeopardy.
Under conditions established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), an addiction to Seconal can be diagnosed if at least two of these criteria are met:
Barbiturates can cause a fierce addiction if abused for an extended period, and the withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping can be fearsome.
If the use of Seconal is stopped abruptly, within six to eight hours withdrawal symptoms will likely begin to manifest. These symptoms may include:
Most of these symptoms can be minimized, and the most serious ones avoided altogether if dosages of Seconal are tapered gradually, under the care of a physician and a medical support team that can administer properly calibrated quantities of the drug.
To achieve the best results, people suffering from Seconal dependency are advised to seek medically-supervised detox services in a drug and alcohol treatment center that offers this amenity. In a hospital-like environment, withdrawal symptoms can be safely managed, along with any physical or mental health needs that might arise over the course of the seven-to-10-day detox program.
Withdrawal from Seconal addiction can be strenuous and can threaten sobriety. But the chances of a person remaining committed to recovery are greater if they undergo structured detox in a clinical facility where 24-hour care can be provided.
” Alta Mira provides a safe, warm environment and a world-class professional team, so you can live the life you want to live. “
