Risks and Effects of Z-Drugs on Human Performance

This assignment delves into the world of z-drugs, also known as sleeping pills or Z-Zones, which can have significant effects on human performance. From impairing driving skills to affecting daily activities, the use of these sedatives can lead to severe consequences. The provided sources offer a comprehensive review of major adverse outcomes reported in epidemiologic research, spontaneous adverse event reports associated with zolpidem in Australia, and the potential risks of immediate, short-term, and long-term use. By examining the effects of z-drugs on human performance, individuals can better understand the importance of responsible usage and the need for caution when consuming these substances.

Psychotic effect of sleeping
tablets

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1
Impact of Zopiclone (Z class drug) in causing psychotic disorders: ..............................................1
Psychotic episodes as a result of Temazepam or Benzodiazepine drugs: ......................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Psychotic episodes are defined as the symptoms which leads to experience events which
do not exist in reality. It can be in the form of hallucinations, paranoia, delusions and Delirium.
The stressful life has resulted in increasing consumption of sleeping pills like Z-class drugs and
other Benzodiazepine class of drugs (For Some Insomniacs, "Z Drugs" Bring On More Than Just
Sleep, 2006). The report will analyse the role of these tablets in causing psychotic disorders. It
will also present authoritative evidences like incidents and facts reported by health regulatory
bodies to support the hypothesis.
Impact of Zopiclone (Z class drug) in causing psychotic disorders:
Zopiclone is one of the most commonly used psychoactive drug which is used for
treatment of insomnia. This class of drugs primarily acts upon nervous system and thus can alter
the brain functioning. As a result of this, individuals may experience temporary alterations in
behaviour, mood and consciousness. According to Jaden & Christine, 2017 in the duration 2000-
2010 11.2% of people killed in vehicle accidents in Canada were found to have positive test for
hypnotic prescriptions which includes Zopiclone and other non-benzodiazepines Z drugs. The
drug intake few hours before driving caused hallucination and paranoia which resulted in vehicle
accident. The psychological impairment due to Zopiclone lasts up to 11 hours (pms-Zopiclone,
2018).
In few drivers the alteration in sleeping behaviour was also evidenced. The effect of
medicine caused them to drive while sleeping and in the state of hallucination accidents
occurred. As per the reports of Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC), Z class
drugs have significant number of users who were recorded with visual hallucination. According
to ADRAC report 2007 in Australia 104 reports of hallucinations were received. Along with
these numbers 16 incidents were recorded in which patients had no remembrance of their
activities or abnormal behaviour which they persuaded after taking pills (Hypnotic hazards:
adverse effects of zolpidem and other z-drugs, 2008). Though these records were related to
Zolpidem which is another member of Z class family but researchers believe that the same
characteristics have been found in all members of Z drugs including Zopiclone.
J Med, (2013), states that there are no confirm evidences of sleep during paranoia events.
Especially the patient who have medical history of hallucinations have very lowered resistance to
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such adverse episodes which are triggered by the use of Zopiclone and other Z class drugs. In
the view of Monsif & et.al., (2011), Australian adverse drug reaction system (ADRS) has 72
reports which describes the adverse side effects caused by the Z class drugs. Out of these reports
56 documents support that this drugs are responsible for psychiatric disorders including
hallucination, depression, paranoia and anxiety.
The drug intake also results in anxiety and restlessness. It is also observed that the user
may feel fully awake but the restlessness may prohibits active working (IMOVANE (zopiclone)
- New Dosage Recommendations to Minimize the Risk of Next-Day Impairment - For the
Public, 2018). The recommendation of Zopiclone to patients suffering from depression suffers
from more worsen symptoms. The medicine can give rise to depression to so much extent that
the consumer can even encounter the thoughts of suicide or aggressive behaviour which can
harm others (Caution! These 10 Drugs Can Cause Memory Loss, 2018). The confusion state
caused by the intake of Z class drug greatly affects the concentration, vigilance and overall
mental efficiency.
The z drugs makes individual sleepy, however this sleepiness can last for next day as
well. It is complemented by paranoia behaviour. It is also observed that alcohol consumption
can raise the adverse effects associated with the drug (Some reasons why you should avoid
sleeping pills, 2014). It creates delirium or hallucination which can last for few hours. The users
are unable to recall the event that occurred with them. The continuous occurrence of events like
delirium, depression and anxiety cause patients to get mentally tired. It reduces their efficiency
and are unable to concentrate on their work (Zopiclone tablets, 2017). They start creating
imaginations about events which did not occur in actual. In few incidents it is also observed that
users can walk, cook or perform several activities during sleep under the influence of Zopiclone.
According to J Med (2013), it is verified by adverse drug reporting systems that
parasomnia, hallucination and suicidality events related to impact of Z drugs has increased
significantly in Australia. The reduced sleep latency due to drug intake also blocks consolidation
of memory. Thus, individuals becomes more depressed and anxious because they find it hard to
analyse that which factor is causing their abnormal behaviour (Zopiclone, 2018).
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Psychotic episodes as a result of Temazepam or Benzodiazepine drugs:
Temazepam belongs to the family of Benzodiazepine which is one of the sedative
hypnotic drug. For treating insomnia it works on brain and produce calming effects. Under the
influence of this drug people experiences more dizziness. These medicines have direct impact on
brain, mostly it alters the memory functioning (Temazepam, 2018). It is analysed that after
taking this medicine people find it difficult to recall their activity. They are unable to remind the
actions performed by them. In most of the cases patients becomes aggressive and develop
hallucination. The drug is also considered as active which can react with the other drugs. The
patients which takes the medicines related to depression and anxiety are usually advised to
ignore this medicine. With interaction of other medicines it can cause delirium (Temazepam
(Oral route), 2018).
Benzodiazepine suppresses the nervous system and enhances the paranoia and delirium.
As a result, anxiety of patients increases and they become more addictive of taking over dose of
drug. This addictiveness of Temazepam often leads to deaths. Many of these death incidents are
caused by suicidal thoughts resulting from depression as well as from accidents which occurs
due to hallucination and paranoia. As per the centre for disease control and prevention in 2012
around 120 people were died due to drug overdoses. Out of these numbers 30.6 % cases were
linked to overdoses of benzodiazepine (Risks of immediate, short-term and long-term use of
benzodiazepines, (2018).
It is stated in hallucinogens & benzodiazepines, (2018) that the people who suffers from
hallucination have higher rate of experiencing side effects of temazepam and other drug groups
of benzodiazepine. The drug is used for short term treatment of insomnia but it leads to
addiction. It reduces anxiety and makes sleepy but over sedation gives rise to hyperactivity and
aggression (What is Temazepam (Restoril)?, 2014). The aggressive nature developed by the
individuals forces them to imagine the unrealistic things. The long term use of this class of drug
can cause significant cognitive impairment. The continuous intake of the drug affects the
memory and brain functioning. The regular anxiety and sleepiness also increases the risk of
traffic accidents. As discussed in Prescribing drugs of dependence in general practice, Part
Benzodiazepines, (2018), the consumers who take benzodiazepine along with the alcohols are
seven times more prone to accidents. Also, the anxiety, hallucination effects produced by
benzodiazepine can increase the risk of accidents by 60 to 80%. It is also observed that when
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patients discontinue the use of Temazepam the anxiety and depression are highly elevated
(Temazepam, 2018).
According to the discussion in (Risks of immediate, short-term and long-term use of
benzodiazepines, (2018) drug abuse warning network (DAWN) has concluded that in the year
2011, around 89,310 Americans were identified which suffered from the adverse reactions of
benzodiazepine. These people were admitted to emergency department and most of them had
complains of delirium, paranoia and depression. The drug can easily interact with alcohol and
produces more severe side effects. In the same report produced by DAWN, apart from the above
mentioned figures 27,452 people encountered adverse effects due to the reaction of drug with
alcohol. The similar instances have also been identified when drug interacted with opioid
mixture.
When patients consume higher doses of benzodiazepine then, it creates disinhibitory
effect. The consumers can behave in completely different character and their hallucination can
even force user to put themselves in danger situations. Certain paradoxical excitements such as
anxiety, restlessness, violence are also evident from the drug usage (What is temazepam and how
does it work?, 2017). The above quoted incidents and facts clearly describe the psychological
impacts caused by sleeping pills. It is necessary for users to identify their hallucinations and
depressions. They must immediately consult with health professionals that how they can
minimize these symptoms. The health professionals must find out appropriate solutions for
eliminating these adverse effects or what alternative solutions can be used by the consumers
(Temazepam, 2018).
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the report that sleeping tablets can trigger the psychotic
disorders thus they must be used with caution. The report has provided significant evidences
which support the hypothesis that Z class sleeping drugs and Benzodiazepine leads to
hallucination and depression. It has also supported the evidences that the intake of these drugs
directly affects the mental efficiency. Thus, it can be concluded from the report that health
authorities must provide clear guidelines regarding adverse effects of these medicines and users
must also analyse these effects. They must consult to their health advisors as soon as they
encounter these symptoms.
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REFERENCES
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>
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