Drug Withdrawal Reactions
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Apart from drugs that are usually recognised as producing dependence, sudden interruption of therapy with certain other drugs also results in adverse consequences, mostly in the form of worsening of the clinical condition for which the drug was being used...
DRUG WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS
Apart
from drugs that are usually recognised as producing dependence, sudden
interruption of therapy with certain other drugs also results in adverse
consequences, mostly in the form of worsening of the clinical condition for
which the drug was being used, e.g.:
§ Acute adrenal insufficiency
may be precipitated by abrupt cessation of corticosteroid therapy.
§ Severe hypertension,
restlessness and sympathetic overactivity may occur shortly after discontinuing
clonidine.
§ Worsening of angina
pectoris, precipitation of myocardial infarction may result from stoppage of β blockers.
§ Frequency of seizures
may increase on sudden withdrawal of an antiepileptic.
These manifestations
are also due to adaptive changes and can be minimized by gradual withdrawal.
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