Opioid withdrawal
Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC
| Opioid withdrawal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms | N/A |
| Pronounce | N/A |
| Specialty | N/A |
| Symptoms | Anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, yawning |
| Complications | Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, relapse |
| Onset | Within hours to days after last opioid use |
| Duration | Typically 5 to 10 days |
| Types | Acute withdrawal, protracted withdrawal |
| Causes | Cessation of opioid use after dependence |
| Risks | Long-term opioid use, high-dose opioid use |
| Diagnosis | Based on clinical presentation and history of opioid use |
| Differential diagnosis | Other substance withdrawal, anxiety disorders, gastroenteritis |
| Prevention | Gradual tapering of opioids, medication-assisted treatment |
| Treatment | Supportive care, medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, clonidine |
| Medication | Buprenorphine, methadone, clonidine |
| Prognosis | Generally good with treatment, risk of relapse |
| Frequency | Common among individuals with opioid use disorder |
| Deaths | N/A |
Opioid withdrawal is a severe physical condition caused by the abrupt cessation or reduction of prolonged use of opioids. Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Opioid withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:
- Restlessness
- Lacrimation (tearing) or rhinorrhea (runny nose)
- Yawning
- Perspiration or gooseflesh
- Dilated pupils
- Sleep difficulties
- Increased heart rate
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bone or joint aches
- Mental health problems such as depression or anxiety
Causes[edit | edit source]
Opioid withdrawal is caused by the sudden cessation or reduction of prolonged use of opioids. The body becomes used to having opioids in the system, so when the drugs are no longer present, withdrawal symptoms can start.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for opioid withdrawal includes medications and support. Medications can help to reduce the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Supportive care can help a person to cope with the physical discomfort and intense craving that characterize withdrawal.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Clonidine pills and patch
Butrans 10 mcg
Buprenorphine naloxone Tablets Bottle
Mesolimbic pathway
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
