Drug Withdrawal Syndromes: A Literature Review |
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| Authors: | Glenn C Hodding Michael Jann Irving P Ackerman |
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| Institution: | Departments of Pharmacy and Internal Medicine, Kaiser-Permanente Medical Care Program, Los Angeles;School of Pharmacy, Residency Program, University of Tennessee, Memphis |
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| Abstract: | Drug withdrawal syndromes reportedly have been caused by numerous pharmacological agents, but only a few drugs have been adequately studied in this regard. Criteria for evaluating drug withdrawal syndromes have been proposed. Sedative-hypnotic agents, opiates, corticosteroids, clonidine, tricyclic antidepressant medications and beta-adrenergic blocking agents meet the criteria for such syndromes. Gradual tapering of the dose of these drugs is recommended when therapy must be discontinued. Whether or not other drugs cause rebound reactions is questionable, but caution should be used when discontinuing drugs for which numerous reports of withdrawal syndromes exist. |
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