There is a long list of prescription opioid medications that can lead to withdrawal. They include:

• Amytal
• Buprenorphine
• Codeine
• Darvon
• Darvocet
• Dilaudid
• Demerol
• Fentanyl
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Lorcet
• Lortab
• Methadone
• Meperidine
• Morphine
• Opana
• Oxycodone/Oxycontin
• Percocet
• Suboxone
• Tramadol
• Vicodin

Common Withdrawal Symptoms

If you’re addicted to prescription painkillers, you’ll probably experience some of the following withdrawal symptoms:

• Achy muscles
• Bouts of restlessness
• Symptoms of anxiety
• Tearing eyes
• A runny nose
• Problems sleeping
• Excessive yawning
• Cravings for your medication
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting

Possible Complications

There are several complications that can occur when someone stops taking opioid drugs. The most common one is nausea and vomiting. If you vomit while you’re asleep and you’re lying on your back, you could aspirate and choke. You could also develop pneumonia as a result.

If you develop diarrhea, you could lose fluids and electrolytes, which can lead to dehydration. This could potentially lead to problems with your circulation and even a heart attack.

Finally, some people could be at risk for seizures if they stop taking their opioid medications. These can come on all at once, and might even be fatal.

The Duration of Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal takes place in two different phases. The entire duration of it will last for about a week, although for some people, it can take longer.

The first phase begins within about 12 to 24 hours after the last dose. At that time, symptoms should be relatively mild, and they will increase in their severity. Over the next three days, they will become more intense until they reach the peak. That happens around the 72-hour mark.

The second phase takes place between the third and fifth day. During this time, many symptoms will start to subside. The person may still have some mild signs of withdrawal, such as feeling tired and having mild aches and pains. By the end of this phase, they should be feeling a lot better.

This is a great video of two doctors discussing what prescription opioid withdrawal is like:

Prescription stimulant use is on the rise in our country. More children and adults are being diagnosed with ADHD or ADD now than ever before. When they stop taking these drugs (whether they have a prescription or not), withdrawal is the result.

Some of the more popular prescription stimulants include:

• Adderall
• Ritalin
• Strattera
• Concerta
• Dexadrine
• Vyvanse

Typical Withdrawal Symptoms

Someone can experience withdrawal after taking any of these drugs for a long period of time. In fact, they could have symptoms even if they’ve always followed all of their doctor’s dosing instructions.

Some common prescription stimulant withdrawal symptoms include:

• Feeling extremely tired and fatigued
• Drug cravings
• Having symptoms of depression
• Insomnia and other sleep issues
• Low energy and lethargy
• Frequent mood swings
• Anger and agitation
• Feelings of sadness

Possible Complications

The most serious potential complication that can occur when coming off prescription stimulants is severe depression. There have been cases in which depression becomes so prominent that the individual begins having suicidal thoughts. Some people may even act on these thoughts instead of getting further help.

The Withdrawal Timeline

As the drug leaves the body, withdrawal symptoms typically get worse before they get better. Everyone is different, but without treatment, it’s possible to experience signs of withdrawal for as long as a year.

It can take between 24 and 72 hours before you begin feeling the effects of withdrawal. This can be misleading, and it can cause people to think that quitting on their own won’t have any serious consequences.

People usually reach the peak of withdrawal by the one-week mark. It can take as long as to four weeks before their symptoms gradually diminish and then disappear.

Antidepressant withdrawal is often referred to as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. There are several different medications that fall under this classification. They include:

• Zoloft
• Celexa
• Prozac
• Paxil
• Lexapro
• Luvox

These and other, similar drugs work really well for people suffering from anxiety and depression. Every year, there are millions of people who take these medications, and their number is growing. In fact, antidepressant use has increased by about 65% over the last 15 years.

Withdrawals People Usually Experience

Antidepressants are often considered to be some of the safest drugs on the market. People are often shocked to learn that they will encounter withdrawal symptoms when they stop them.

Some common symptoms of withdrawal for antidepressant medications include:

• A return of their depression symptoms
• Symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks
• Fatigue and excessive sleep
• Insomnia with vivid dreams
• Flu-like symptoms, such as aches and chills
• Bouts of nausea
• Sensations that feel like electric shocks
• Irritability and agitation
• Headaches
• Dizziness

Complications During Detox

There are several complications that can occur when you stop taking antidepressants. You may experience diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. You could also have visual disturbances, which might include hallucinations or delusions.

Some people will develop psychosis, depersonalization or even have suicidal thoughts. There are even those who go into a state of catatonia, which can make them unresponsive.

For many people, their symptoms of depression become severe. As a result, they may start having suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The Withdrawal Timeframe

The symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal will usually begin when about 90% of the drug is out of the body. Each medication has a different half-life, so this timeframe may vary.

Most experts indicate that withdrawal symptoms usually last for about a week or two. However, there are some cases when they could last as long as six weeks.

You’ll probably begin to have symptoms within the first 24 hours, but it could take longer. After about a week, your symptoms will reach their peak. After seven days, you’ll notice that some may disappear while others become less severe.

By the third week, you may notice a lingering sensation of depression. But the other symptoms you had should be mostly gone.

Benzodiazepines are some of the strongest drugs in the world. They’re usually prescribed to treat anxiety, seizures or insomnia. These drugs should only be given on a short-term basis. Unfortunately, people can remain on them for years, which can result in an addiction.

Some common benzodiazepines include:

• Ativan
• Halcion
• Klonopin
• Librium
• Seroquel

Common Symptoms of Withdrawal

Because of the potency of benzos, it makes sense that stopping their use would cause withdrawal symptoms. Some common signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal include:

• Symptoms of anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Problems with concentration
• Increased irritability
• Emotional outbursts or mood swings
• Impaired memory
• Body aches and pains
• Muscle stiffness and soreness
• Difficulty with sleep

Complications While Detoxing

It is very dangerous to detox from a benzo medication on your own. There can be many complications that can occur once these drugs are out of your system. These are often referred to as benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.

It’s possible to become severely depressed and even have suicidal thoughts once benzos are stopped. You could also develop seizures, which can be life threatening.

Many people will develop Derealization and paranoia when they quit taking benzos. This type of mental health response is much more typical for people who are taking short-acting benzodiazepine drugs, such as Triazolam.

How Long do Symptoms Last?

First and foremost, you should know that there is no definite time period for how long your symptoms will last. Some people say they only last for a few days, while other suffer with them for weeks, or even months.

The symptoms will usually appear within six to twelve hours after the last dose of the drug. Withdrawal will often peak at around the one-week mark. During the second week, symptoms will begin to subside.

For people who don’t get professional help, it’s possible for benzo withdrawal to last for years. They may experience some relief off and on, but it’s not uncommon for withdrawal to come back full force from time to time.

According to the American Sleep Association (ASA), as many as 70 million adults in the United States suffer from a sleep disorder. Insomnia is the most common one, and 30% of adults report short-term issues. 10% of adults in our country report suffering from chronic insomnia.

It’s no surprise that these drugs are so highly prescribed. Some of the more popular sleeping medications on the market include:

• Lunesta
• Ambien
• Sonata
• Restoril
• Doxepin
• Zolpidem

Typical Withdrawals

Sleeping pills carry a long list of withdrawal symptoms. Keep in mind that if you’re taking one of these drugs, you might not have all of them. But you could have several on this list:

• Symptoms of anxiety
• Drug cravings
• Symptoms of depression
• Body spasms
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Excessive sweating
• Hallucinations and delirium
• Bouts of confusion
• Tremors in your hands
• Irritability

Possible Complications During Recovery

Like other medications, it is possible to experience complications during the recovery process. You may experience an increased heart rate or high blood pressure. These are issues that need to be brought to the attention of your doctor.

Some people may develop severe tremors or even have seizures once these drugs are stopped. This is unusual, but it has been known to happen.

When some individuals stop taking sleeping pills, they can experience rebound insomnia. This means that the condition is compounded and their sleeping problems are worse than they were before.

Drug Withdrawal Duration

One woman in the UK discovered just how addictive prescription sleeping pills could be. She needed to have surgery on her shoulder, and required two separate corrective operations afterwards. What followed was terrible pain and anxiety that made sleep impossible.

Her doctor prescribed her a sleeping pill to help her go to sleep and stay asleep all night long. Eventually she wanted to get off it, and what followed was the worst year she ever had. She had only taken them for six months.

The woman stated, “It was horrible. I’d go to bed at the normal time, but just lie in bed wide awake for hours. I felt depressed. I had no energy in the morning to do anything. It was the darkest year of my life. I was only getting a few hours’ sleep a night.”

If you attempt to quit on your own, withdrawal can last for several months, up to a year. This is why it’s best to choose a professional detox. Those who do may only experience symptoms for a few weeks.

Depressants are medications that can include several other classifications. For instance some are also benzos and others are classified as barbiturates. Some examples of depressant drugs include:

• Cipralex
• Tranquilizers
• Zoloft
• Zyprexa
• Seconal

Common Symptoms of Withdrawal

The most common withdrawal symptoms that people taking depressants might experience include:

• Sexual problems
• Insomnia or other sleep disturbances
• Problems with breathing
• Symptoms of depression
• Chronic fatigue
• Drug cravings

Problems Some People Experience

For people taking higher doses of depressants, withdrawal symptoms can become severe. There can be many complications that arise during the detoxification period. Some of them include:

• Extreme agitation
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Intense cravings
• A high body temperature
• Hallucinations and delirium
• Seizures or convulsions

The Length of the Withdrawal Period

It usually takes about a week to ten days to get through depressant withdrawal. This time period can be shortened when you choose to detox at a professional treatment center.

Depending on the drug, it can take between 6 and 24 hours before withdrawals begin. Once the symptoms begin to surface, they should seem relatively mild. Most people are very familiar with early withdrawal because they’ve experienced it before.

As time goes on, the severity of withdrawal should increase. You may notice newer symptoms developing that you didn’t have when you first quit. Most people experience the peak of their withdrawals by about the third or fourth day. After that, they should have fewer symptoms, and they should feel more manageable.

Barbiturates aren’t prescribed as often as they once were. Most doctors favor benzos over them because they are highly addictive. Still, there are some people for whom they work really well.

Some examples of barbiturate drugs include:

• Amytal
• Butisol
• Numbutal
• Seconal
• Donnatal
• Fioricet
• Fortabs

Typical Withdrawals

The symptoms of barbiturate withdrawals can be very dangerous. These are medications that you don’t want to risk quitting on your own.

Some of the typical barbiturate withdrawal symptoms include:

• Agitation
• A high body temperature
• Shakiness and tremors
• Violent behaviors
• Insomnia
• Anxiety symptoms
• Slower breathing rates than normal

Difficulties During Detox and Recovery

It’s quite common for people to experience difficulties when they are detoxing from barbiturates. You could have complications such as:

• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Respiratory depression
• Respiratory arrest
• Slipping into a coma

How Long Will Symptoms Last?

Your symptoms will be the most intense during the first 24 hours off the drug. The first three days are the most dangerous because you’re at a high risk of seizures. It’s very important to have constant medical monitoring around the clock during this time.

Your symptoms may linger for the first week after your last dose. You could have moments that are more difficult to manage than others. Some people even develop psychosis during this time.

By the second week, you may continue to have the same types of emotional symptoms. You may even notice an increase in the severity and intensity of your mood swings. Sleep issues will persist during that time.

Any sleep problems should begin to settle down during weeks three and four after your last dose. You may still have some lingering symptoms of withdrawal as well, but most will have resolved.