Struggling with Parents Over Insomnia Medication: AITA for Wanting My Prescribed Pills Back?

AITA for demanding my medication back from my parents? A young adult struggles with addiction to prescribed sleeping pills, leading to conflict and strained family relationships.

Damjan

Published in Interesting
19 Jan 2026

Struggling with Parents Over Insomnia Medication: AITA for Wanting My Prescribed Pills Back?

A 20-year-old woman says her insomnia prescription turned into a nightmare of its own, after she realized the pills were more addictive than she expected. What started as “I’ll just take what I was told” quickly turned into “I took way too much,” and she knew it was dangerous.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Now her parents hold onto the medication, which she understands, because addiction is serious. But the monthly routine has become a full-on emotional showdown, with her parents exploding when she even asks for a single pill at night, accusing her of trying to kill them, or forcing her into a cold-turkey month by flushing the meds.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

She’s trying to taper and keep the peace, but the family’s nightly arguments are making sleep feel impossible.

Original Post

I (20F) have insomnia and was prescribed sleeping pills by my psychiatrist a couple months ago. Long story short they're more addictive than I realized which ended up in me taking absurd amounts which was dangerous.

I told my parents about this and they understandably hold onto my meds now when I get them. I know addiction is a serious problem and I started regulating myself to the prescribed dosage which I know I should have done in the first place (1-2 pills).

But now every month they'll get extremely mad at me for even needing them in the first place, claim that I'm trying to kill them when I ask for one at night or just flush them down the toilet which leaves me cold turkey for the rest of the month. It's doable, but not before 4-5 hours of lying awake in silence.

I understand their health concerns and I'm genuinely trying to cut back slowly until I don't need it anymore but it's so exhausting fighting with them every time I ask for my own meds that I was prescribed. BTW I have tried other sleeping pills and they don't work (makes me panicky or drowsy the next day).