withdrawal symptoms

symptom /symp·tom/ (simp´tom) any subjective evidence of disease or of a patient's condition, i.e., such evidence as perceived by the patient; a change in a patient's condition indicative of some bodily or mental state.

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objective symptom  one that is evident to the observer; see sign.

presenting symptom  the symptom or group of symptoms about which the patient complains or from which he seeks relief.

subjective symptom  one perceptible only to the patient.

withdrawal symptoms  substance withdrawal.

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Withdrawal symptoms

A group of physical or mental symptoms that may occur when a person suddenly stops using a drug to which he or she has become dependent.

Mentioned in: Analgesics, Opioid, Anticonvulsant Drugs, Antidepressants, Tricyclic, Anti-Insomnia Drugs, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Caffeine, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, Smoking-Cessation Drugs

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withdrawal symptoms,

the unpleasant, sometimes life-threatening physiologic changes that occur when some drugs are withdrawn after prolonged, regular use. The effects may occur after use of an opioid, antipsychotic, stimulant, sedative-hypnotic, alcohol, corticosteroid, or other substance to which the person has become physiologically or psychologically dependent or addicted. Other drug therapy may be used to relieve symptoms of withdrawal, such as methadone used for heroin withdrawal, or chlordiazepoxide, used for alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can also be managed with a planned schedule of tapering the drug dose by gradually reducing the dosage over time, as with the tapering of corticosteroids.