Narcotic withdrawal syndrome in young adults after the therapeutic use of opiates
A. W. Miser, K. J. Chayt, J. T. Sandlund, P. S. Cohen, J. A. Dothage and J. S. Miser
Five young adults with malignant neoplasms developed symptoms of narcotic
withdrawal six to 48 hours after the abrupt discontinuation of narcotic
therapy that had been administered for six to 21 days. The symptoms, which
included agitation, irritability, muscular jerks, abdominal pain, diarrhea,
burning sensations, "gooseflesh," and itching, rapidly resolved when
narcotic therapy was reinstituted. Four patients were then successfully
weaned from opiates without recurrence of their withdrawal symptoms; the
fifth patient continues to receive methadone hydrochloride treatment for
continuing pain.
