Drug Withdrawal: Methadone & Heroin Facts

Question: Can you feel drug withdrawal without being addicted to the drug?

(Posted by: Fred D on 2009-11-10 16:38:04)

Or can you only feel withdrawal if your body is addicted to the drug i meant drugs like narcotics, heroin cocaine etc

Posted by: Haley V on 2009-11-10, 16:45:20

Yes you can. Even if you yourself have not become addictively dependent on the drug your body could have gotten used to it and you can feel the withdrawal symptoms because it misses it.

Posted by: StepRN on 2009-11-10, 16:42:16

Absolutely. take alcohol for example, one of the most common "drugs ". The morning after, many effects that you feel that most people call a "hangover " is actually withdrawal (such as headache and nausea), though that is not the only thing that causes a hangover. narcotics can often cause withdrawal symptoms only after a couple of doses as well.

Posted by: em on 2009-11-10, 16:42:37

I get minor withdrawal symptoms when I forget to take my anti depressants. I wouldn't call myself addicted just dependant on them.

Posted by: dee on 2009-11-10, 16:44:39

You can feel withdrawal even after taking a drug for a little while. I took painkillers (Perkosets and Vicodin) for two weeks after an ACL reconstruction. I didn't feel addicted to them other than taking them made me feel more comfortable. Once I got off the painkillers, I developed a fever and chills for a few days, felt nausaus, and overall just felt really crappy. It went away in a few days, but it was definatly drug withdrawal symptoms. So no, you don't have to be "addicted " to the drug to feel withdrawal symptoms.

Posted by: MTBgirl on 2009-11-10, 16:58:49

You can definitely have withdrawal symptoms, sometimes severe, even if you aren't addicted to something. If you wake up with a hangover (headache, nausea, etc.) those are withdrawal symptoms from alcohol use. This is why another drink can cure a hangover, or at least postpone it. If you were to overdo anything, you can have withdrawal symptoms when you come down. This is always a risk when putting foreign substances into your body. Many people experience negative after effects after using a drug just one time. This could range from physical discomfort (like with the hangover) to psychological distress like depression and mood swings. The best thing you can do is to be educated. Never go into any situation blind. It's not worth the consequences.