Volatile inhalant withdrawal
{{Infobox medical condition
|name = Volatile inhalant withdrawal
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|specialty = Psychiatry
|symptoms = Dysphoria, insomnia, transient illusions, anxiety, irritability, nausea, shakiness, perspiration{{cite web | title=ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics: 6C4B.4 Volatile inhalant withdrawal | website=World Health Organization | url=https://icd.who.int/browse/2025-01/mms/en#1317171068 | access-date=2025-03-16}}
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Volatile inhalant withdrawal is a group of symptoms, behaviours, and physiological changes that can occur when individuals who are dependent on inhalants abruptly reduce or stop their use. This condition is most often seen in those who have engaged in prolonged or heavy inhalant use.
Symptoms
The severity and duration of volatile inhalant withdrawal symptoms can vary. Common symptoms may include dysphoria, insomnia, transient illusions, anxiety, irritability, nausea, shakiness, perspiration.{{cite web | title=ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics: 6C4B.4 Volatile inhalant withdrawal | website=World Health Organization | url=https://icd.who.int/browse/2025-01/mms/en#1317171068 | access-date=2025-03-16}}
Diagnostic manuals
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) recognises volatile inhalant withdrawal as a distinct condition. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not currently list inhalant withdrawal as a diagnostic category. This omission is attributed to a lack of substantial evidence demonstrating a consistent and severe withdrawal pattern comparable to that seen with psychoactive substances like phencyclidine (PCP) or hallucinogens.{{cite book | title=Kaplan & Sadock's comprehensive textbook of psychiatry | publisher=Wolters Kluwer | publication-place=Philadelphia | date=2025 | isbn=978-1-9751-7573-3 | chapter=11.7 Inhalant-Related Disorders}}
A national study involving individuals diagnosed with inhalant dependence (under DSM-IV-TR criteria) found that nearly 48% experienced three or more significant withdrawal symptoms. This evidence has led some experts to advocate for the inclusion of inhalant withdrawal criteria in future editions of the DSM.
References
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Further reading
- {{cite journal | last=Perron | first=Brian E. | last2=Howard | first2=Matthew O. | last3=Vaughn | first3=Michael G. | last4=Jarman | first4=Christopher N. | title=Inhalant withdrawal as a clinically significant feature of inhalant dependence disorder | journal=Medical Hypotheses | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=73 | issue=6 | year=2009 | issn=0306-9877 | doi=10.1016/j.mehy.2009.06.036 | doi-access=free | pages=935–937 | url=http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78174/1/sdarticle.pdf | access-date=2025-03-16}}
- {{cite journal | last=Perron | first=Brian | last2=Glass | first2=Joseph E. | last3=Ahmedani | first3=Brian | last4=Vaughn | first4=Michael G | last5=Roberts | first5=Daniel E. | last6=Wu | first6=Li-Tzy | title=The prevalence and clinical significance of inhalant withdrawal symptoms among a national sample | journal=Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation | publisher=Informa UK Limited | year=2011 | issn=1179-8467 | doi=10.2147/sar.s14937 | doi-access=free | page=69| hdl=2027.42/84916 | hdl-access=free }}
- {{cite journal | last=Muralidharan | first=Kesavan | last2=Rajkumar | first2=Ravi Philip | last3=Mulla | first3=Uzma | last4=Nayak | first4=Raghavendra Bheemappa | last5=Benegal | first5=Vivek | title=Baclofen in the Management of Inhalant Withdrawal: A Case Series | journal=The Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry | publisher=Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc | volume=10 | issue=01 | date=2008-02-14 | issn=1523-5998 | doi=10.4088/pcc.v10n0108 | doi-access=free | pages=48–51 | url=https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc2249815?pdf=render | access-date=2025-03-16| pmc=2249815 }}
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