Withdrawal effects caused by sedative-hypnotics discontinuation, such as<unk> s, barbiturates, or alcohol, can cause serious medical complications. They are cited to be more hazardous to withdraw from than opioids. Users typically receive little advice and support for discontinuation. Some withdrawal symptoms are identical to the symptoms for which the medication was originally prescribed, and can be acute or protracted in duration. Onset of symptoms from long half-life<unk> s might be delayed for up to three weeks, although withdrawal symptoms from short-acting ones often present early, usually within 24–48 hours. There may be no fundamental differences in symptoms from either high or low dose discontinuation, but symptoms tend to be more severe from higher doses. Daytime reemergence and rebound withdrawal symptoms, sometimes confused with interdose withdrawal, may occur once dependence has set in. 'Reemergence' is the return of symptoms for which the drug was initially prescribed, in contrast, 'rebound' symptoms are a return of the symptoms for which the<unk>  was initially taken, but at a more intense level than before; whereas 'interdose withdrawal' is when a prior dosage of drug wears off and beginnings of an entirely new cycle of withdrawal sets in, the symptoms of which dissipate upon taking the next dosage but after which yet another entirely new cycle of withdrawal begins when that dosage wears off, a new onset of withdrawal between each dosage thus called interdose withdrawal' and if not properly treated can recur indefinitely in a vicious circle (for which a benzo with a long half life, e.g. diazepam, can be substituted so the drug does not wear off between doses). Withdrawal symptoms may appear for the first time during dose reduction, and include insomnia, anxiety, distress, weight loss, dizziness, night sweats, shakes, muscle twitches, aphasia, panic attacks, depression, derealization, paranoia, indigestion, diarrhea, photophobia etc., and are more commonly associated with short-acting<unk> s discontinuation, like triazolam. Daytime symptoms can occur after a few days to a few weeks of administration of nightly<unk> s or z-drugs such as zopiclone; withdrawal-related insomnia rebounds worse than baseline, and for rapidly eliminated<unk> s, including triazolam and temazepam, this may occur even when used briefly and intermittently, according to a small 1991 study (n=18). The following symptoms may emerge during gradual or abrupt dosage reduction: Rapid discontinuation may result in a more serious syndrome As withdrawal progresses, patients often find their physical and mental health improves with improved mood and improved cognition.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome
Delirium tremens
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome
Nicotine withdrawal
Opioid withdrawal
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Drug withdrawal