Lesson 1: Clinical Disorders – Part F

PART F

Substance Withdrawal

When individuals discontinue the use of a substance they are dependent on, they may experience a variety of symptoms, both physical and psychological. Symptoms are variable but may include anxiety, agitation, irritability, sweating, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, seizures, and increased heart and/or respiration rate. Individuals may also experience decreased clarity and awareness of their environment, but they have a reduced ability to focus, sustain, and/or shift attention. They may also become disoriented and forgetful. Withdrawal symptoms can occur within a few hours of discontinued use of a drug, but they can last for more than two weeks with some substances.