A person can turn to drugs for various reasons, such as enjoyment of the high a drug produces or to self-medicate a serious problem such as depression. As a person uses more and more of a drug, it becomes abuse which may lead to drug dependence. When drug use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms are experienced and these can be severe. The type and severity of withdrawal symptoms often depend on the drug being abused.
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
About 10 percent of people use marijuana regularly, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The drug acts on the central nervous system (CNS), causing a euphoric effect. When a person stops using after a high dosage or after chronic use, withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and agitation are experienced. The user can also have anxiety and suffer from insomnia.
Benzodiazepines Withdrawal Symptoms
People who use benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam and chlordiazepoxide build up a tolerance by six months of use, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Physical withdrawal symptoms can occur such as abdominal pains and twitching. Cognitive functions can also be affected, which include impaired memory and concentration. Other withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines are agitation, anxiety and paranoia.
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
Cocaine causes the user to feel euphoric, but when use is stopped, it can produce a "crash." Intense craving for the drug results, according to the NIH, along with fatigue, a depressed mood, increased appetite, agitation, suspicion and unpleasant dreams.
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
The NIH states that 9 percent of the population misuses opiates, which include heroin, methadone, morphine and codeine. Withdrawal symptoms start within 12 hours for heroin and 30 hours for methadone. Early symptoms of opiate withdrawal include sweating, agitation, insomnia, muscle aches and anxiety. As the withdrawal progresses, the person can also have nausea, dilated pupils, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and goose bumps.
