Patient education: Sedative withdrawal – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED because you stopped taking a sedative you are used to taking or took less than you usually take. Then, you started having symptoms. These symptoms are called "withdrawal."

Sedatives are medicines that can make you relax and feel sleepy. Examples include benzodiazepines, gabapentin, and baclofen.

You might be trembling, shaking, or sweating. You might have nausea or vomiting, headaches, or trouble sleeping. Your heart might feel like it is beating fast, beating hard, or skipping a beat. You might feel anxious, restless, sad, depressed, or tired.

These symptoms usually start mild, then gradually get worse before they start to improve. It depends on what sedative you were taking, how you were taking it, and if you were taking more than 1 sedative.

The doctor might have given you medicines to help reduce cravings or to treat your withdrawal symptoms. They might ask you to gradually decrease your dose. This is called a "taper." Take the medicines exactly as instructed.

The doctor thinks it is safe for you to manage your withdrawal at home and with some support.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment.

●Ask someone to stay with you for the next 1 to 2 days to watch and help you manage the withdrawal. Make sure they know when to call for help.

●Set up an appointment with a doctor, therapist, or counselor to talk about your substance use, your thoughts, and your feelings. Counseling can be 1 on 1, in a group, or with family members.

●Consider joining a support group such as SMART Recovery. It can help to connect with people who are going through similar things.

When should I get emergency help?

●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:

•Have a seizure

•Are confused or agitated, or are not making sense to others

•Think you might harm yourself or someone else. In the US, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

-To speak to someone, call or text 988.

-To talk to someone online, go to chat.988lifeline.org.

●Return to the ED if you:

•Have a fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C)

•Are vomiting for longer than 2 hours

•Have severe belly pain or trouble breathing

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●You are not starting to feel better after 3 days, even when taking your medicines as instructed.

●Your symptoms return or get worse while decreasing (tapering) your sedative dose.

●You have symptoms of severe depression. Symptoms of depression include:

•No longer enjoying or caring about the things you used to like to do

•Feeling sad, down, hopeless, or cranky most of the day, almost every day

•Losing or gaining weight without trying

•Sleeping too much or too little

•Feeling tired, or having no energy

•Feeling guilty or like you are worth nothing

•Forgetting things, or feeling confused

•Moving and speaking more slowly than usual

•Acting restless, or having trouble staying still

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Substance use disorder (The Basics)
Patient education: Treatment for substance use disorder (The Basics)
Patient education: Depression in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Depression in children and teens (The Basics)

Patient education: Depression in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Depression in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)