Tolerance to sedatives can develop quickly. As tolerance develops, the risk of withdrawal increases. Signs of withdrawal are those of sympathetic overstimulation.
- Tremors
- Tachycardia
- Hypertensive
- Hallucinations
The hallucinations of withdrawal are usually visual, which differentiates this syndrome from pure psychosis, in which hallucinations are auditory. The withdrawing patient may suffer from delirium, and be disoriented to person, place and time. Often they will be incoherent. Left untreated, sedative withdrawal has a mortality of up to 25%. Usually the patient is medicated to reduce symptoms and then slowly tapered off. This is the usual approach for all sedatives, including alcohol. [16]
