Insomnia After Quitting Alcohol: How Long Do Sleep Issues Last
Despite non-pharmacological interventions, many alcoholic patients continue to have sleep problems and request pharmacotherapy. Many agents previously used for insomnia are relatively contraindicated because of their interaction with alcohol. Alcohol potentiates the effects of barbiturates and chloral hydrate, which are almost never clinically indicated for insomnia among alcoholics. Though safer, benzodiazepines raise concerns because of their abuse potential. Alprazolam and diazepam demonstrate greater rewarding effects of single challenge doses in abstinent alcoholic subjects compared to those without alcohol dependence (80).
- Binge drinking or excessive alcohol consumption is likely to negatively impact sleep more than light or moderate drinking.
- However, the alcohol will continue to damage their sleep cycles, and the problem will not get better.
- When you have sleep apnea, drinking can make the breathing interruptions last longer when you are asleep, leading to more awakenings.
- Instead, researchers suggest adopting a largely plant-based diet that incorporates lean proteins and high-fiber foods, such as those found in the traditional Mediterranean and DASH diets.
However, in the second half of a night’s sleep, alcohol diminishes the amount of REM sleep. Alcohol’s negative effects on sleep quality worsen after several nights of drinking. For example, people may experience steroid-induced insomnia, or antidepressants may worsen or induce sleep disorders. Continual lack of quality sleep can have dangerous health effects. It can seriously suppress the immune system, impair cognitive and motor function, and increase the risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and more. Sleep problems also contribute to irritability, anxiety, and depression, which can seriously impact those in recovery.
Develop Sleep Hygiene
Sleep health is absurdly important, and I promise it’s worth skipping that extra cup of coffee or energy drink to be able to lie down and drift off to sleep at a reasonable hour. Even if you can get to sleep okay, are you staying asleep throughout the night? Lifestyle choices (like how much caffeine you consume) impact both. Others claim giving yourself 4-6 hours before bedtime is sufficient. For this, I have been rewarded with bedtimes that came about two hours too late, jitters, and anxiety that did not need to be so bad.
- Shaking this addiction and learning to sleep without alcohol can be difficult.
- Alcohol has sedative properties that may help with sleep onset, allowing you to fall asleep faster.
- My own continuing insomnia gave me the motivation to slowly discover the gentler remedies contained on this list.
- A 2017 study found that fluctuations in sleep quality were linked to changes in drug cravings.
- The clinical significance of eveningness is that emerging evidence has linked it with an increased risk for psychopathology such as alcohol misuse [5].
If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out today. Treatment providers can connect you with programs that provide the tools to help you get and stay sober. Ria Health’s online treatment program offers complete support to cut back or quit drinking, from the comfort of home. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), sleep deprivation decreases the sensitivity of dopamine receptors. As a result, people are more prone to impulsive behavior, which can contribute to drug relapse.
Remedy #1: Herbs For Sleep
Experts state that acute insomnia lasts up to a few days to weeks, while chronic insomnia continues for several months. Research shows that regular alcohol intake can reduce sleep quality over time, potentially causing issues such as insomnia. If all else fails and inpatient rehabilitation is not an option, you may be able to obtain medications for alcohol withdrawal from your doctor. These medications will stimulate your GABA receptors and/or reduce glutamate levels, which can help you sleep.
- I haven’t slept well in eight days so I am searching for an answer.
- The time you spent using drugs or drinking excessively has changed the way your body works, and this commonly includes sleeping patterns.
- However, this time can be quite challenging, especially for a suicidal alcoholic.
- Sleep maintenance insomnia means you have a hard time staying asleep, or even if you get eight hours of sleep, it is not restful sleep.
Some people in recovery may try to start drinking again to improve their sleep. However, the alcohol will continue to damage their sleep cycles, and the problem will not get better. Binge drinking occurs when a man has five drinks, or a woman has four drinks within two hours. This pattern of drinking is linked to insomnia, which can develop after binging.
Alcohol’s Effect on Sleep Through Other Mechanisms
An uncomfortable sleep environment can make getting a good night’s rest challenging. It can also negatively affect mood, which can, in turn, affect personal relationships. Stopping the use of alcohol because it is causing problems in your life takes courage and commitment. There are both psychological and physical hurdles to overcome when seeking sobriety. Here’s what else to know about the relationship between nightcaps and your nightly rest.
It was also not always clearly stated that subjects were abstinent from cross-tolerant sedatives in addition to alcohol. Studies also failed to differentiate insomnia symptoms from an insomnia disorder, which is characterized by the additional burden of daytime impairment and/or psychological distress attributable to the sleep problems. Insomnia disorders are more likely to have a chronic course, to require independent treatment, and may contribute more directly to relapse during alcohol recovery. Taken together, these findings indicate that CBT-I may improve sleep and quality of life of recovering alcoholic patients.
How Long Does It Take for Sleep To Improve After Stopping Drinking?
If you quit drinking and can’t sleep without alcohol I feel your pain. Years ago, I would frequently succeed in quitting drinking for one day. Later that night, hours after I went to bed, I would get tired of my brain feeling like it was on fire and head to the kitchen to pour myself a drink so that I could finally fall asleep.
The time you spent using drugs or drinking excessively has changed the way your body works, and this commonly includes sleeping patterns. Incredibly smart human beings have studied the relationship between alcohol and sleep for decades and found that long-term insomnia after drinking alcohol abuse and chronic sleep problems are linked. Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by abnormal breathing and temporary loss of breath during sleep. These lapses in breathing can in turn cause sleep disruptions and decrease sleep quality.
