Post–acute Withdrawal Syndrome

Abstract

Post–acute withdrawal syndrome is an underresearched topic that affects many patients with substance use disorders after the cessation of substance use. Post–acute withdrawal syndrome is exemplified by the occurrence of substance-specific withdrawal signs and symptoms lasting well past the known timeframe for acute withdrawal of a used substance. Post–acute withdrawal syndrome may also include signs and symptoms that are not substance specific that persist, evolve, or appear well past the expected acute withdrawal timeframe. Unfortunately, there is very little scientific literature on post–acute withdrawal syndrome. As a result of this, there are no diagnostic criteria for post–acute withdrawal syndrome, and there is no consensus on the proper name for the condition. We present a case of a 38-year-old man who developed post–acute withdrawal syndrome after treatment with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and review the limited existing literature on post–acute withdrawal syndrome.