Successful termination of prescription drug therapy for certain illnesses or recovery from prescription drug abuse often coincides with severe withdrawal symptoms, according to Scripts, a prescription drug rehabilitation center. Many people find it difficult to stop taking prescription drugs, because they experience withdrawal symptoms. The signs of withdrawal from prescription medications vary by type of drug. Three types of prescription drugs that are associated with withdrawal symptoms include opioids, depressants and stimulants.
Opioids
Prescription opioids are used to treat chronic pain and are among the most widely abused drugs. Opioids are synthetic drugs that resemble morphine. Oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl and hydrocodone are examples of popular prescription opioids. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), patients who are prescribed opioids can develop a physical dependence that is different from addiction. Patients become tolerant to the medication over time as the body adapts to repeated doses of the drug. As tolerance grows, patients require higher doses. If patients stop taking the drug, withdrawal symptoms ensue. For this reason, patients must be medically supervised during periods of withdrawal.
According to Scripts and NIDA, signs of withdrawal from prescription opioids include cold shakes and flashes with goose bumps, bone and muscle pain, insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and involuntary leg movements. Opioid craving is associated with opioid withdrawal; patients withdrawing from opioids often seek alternative drugs if opioids are not available. Research conducted by D. Hermann and published in "Addictive Biology" in June 2005 found that benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants have a moderate positive effect on opioid withdrawal.
Depressants
Prescription depressants include medications that treat anxiety and insomnia. These drug classes include benzodiazepines, barbiturates and sedatives. Popular depressants include alprazolam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, mephobarbital and triazolam.
According to Scripts, NIDA and MyAddiction.com, signs of withdrawal from depressants include racing thoughts and seizures. MyAddiction.com reports that withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines include insomnia, disturbing dreams, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, rapid heartbeat, tremors, loss of appetite, ringing in the ears, hallucination and delusion. Withdrawal from depressants can be life threatening and requires medical supervision.
Stimulants
Prescription stimulants increase alertness, attention and energy. They are used to treat excess sleepiness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression, according to NIDA. Popular prescribed classes of stimulants include dextroamphetamine, amphetamine and methylphenidate. These drugs have similar chemical structures to dopamine and norepinephrine, which are euphoric and stimulatory chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters.
According to NIDA, signs of withdrawal from stimulants include fatigue, depression and disturbances in appetite and sleep pattern. Research conducted by R.H. Schwartz and published in the "Journal of Pediatrics" in May 2004 reported a case of prolonged, painful, pathologic erections associated with withdrawal from methylphenidate.
References
- Scripts: Prescription Drug Withdrawal
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: NIDA InfoFacts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
- "Addictive Biology"; Low Efficacy of Non-Opioid Drugs in Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms; Hermann, D.; June 2005
- MyAddiction.com: Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
- "Journal of Pediatrics"; Stuttering Priapism Associated with Withdrawal from Methylphenidate; Schwartz, R.H.; May 2004
