| 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. |
|
