Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms

Drug	Symptoms	Management
Alcohol	Tremors, irritability, hyperactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance, sweating, perceptual distortions, somatic delusions, delirium and seizure. Symptoms begin a few hours after the last drink. Seizures may appear 12 to 48 hours after the last drink. About 5% of patients have severe symptoms; typically patients with 5 to 15 years of heavy use.	Hospitalization is often required because of threat of seizures. Medications such as librium are used to help manage symptoms. Multi-vitamins are also given.
Benzodiazepines	Anxiety, agitation, light and sound sensitivity, sleep disturbance, and possible delirium and seizure if high dose use is abruptly stopped.	Hospitalization is often needed in high dose use cases.
Opioids (Heroin, etc)	Yawning, diarrhea, runny nose, tearing eyes, sweating, shakes, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, mood swings, muscle aches, bone pain, intense anxiety, sexual dysfunction.	Not usually medically dangerous. Can be treated with methadone taper or clonidine for symptoms. Detox takes 4 to 7 days inpatient and as long as 21 days outpatient.
Cocaine	Depression, sleep disturbance, anorexia, intense craving, suicidal ideation, tiredness. Late stage withdrawal includes increased appetite and sleep, psychomotor retardation, exhaustion.	Treated symptomatically. Inderal is effective in managing severe withdrawal symptoms and in preventing premature treatment termination. If significant weight loss has occurred then nutritional assessment is needed.
Halluciongens	LSD excreted in 24 hours. Insomnia, fatigue, drowsiness, sore jaw, incoordination and headache are major symptoms.	Benzodiazepine for severe anxiety, anti-psychotics for psychosis.
Ecstasy	Anger, irritability, anxiety, depressed mood, frustration, difficulty concentrating.	Treated symptomatically.
Marijuana	Cravings, irritability, nervousness, depressed mood, increased anger, sleep difficulty, decreased appetite.	Treated symptomatically.
Amphetamine	Irritability, extreme fatigue, intense hunger, emotional depression, disturbed sleep, increased dreaming.	Treated symptomatically.