Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.WithdrawalHow to say it:Withdrawal(with-DRAWL)What it means: In medicine, the term “withdrawal” can mean a few things. You’ll often hear it used in relation to stopping a substance, medication, or treatment. The term “withdrawal” can also be used to describe the symptoms that a person has when they stop taking something.Where it comes from: From the Middle English,drawen, “to pull toward” something.Nataliya Vaitkevich/PexelsWhere you might see or hear it: If you aretaking a medicationand your doctor wants you to take less or stop taking it altogether, they might explain that you will start gradually taking less and less (referred totapering) to help avoid symptoms ofwithdrawalthat can happen if you stop taking the medication abruptly.When you might want to use it: When someone stops using asubstance like alcoholor drugs, they may experience symptoms as their body adjusts to no longer having it. This is sometimes referred to as “going through withdrawal.“What to Expect During Alcohol Withdrawal
Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology.
Withdrawal
How to say it:Withdrawal(with-DRAWL)
What it means: In medicine, the term “withdrawal” can mean a few things. You’ll often hear it used in relation to stopping a substance, medication, or treatment. The term “withdrawal” can also be used to describe the symptoms that a person has when they stop taking something.
Where it comes from: From the Middle English,drawen, “to pull toward” something.
Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels
Where you might see or hear it: If you aretaking a medicationand your doctor wants you to take less or stop taking it altogether, they might explain that you will start gradually taking less and less (referred totapering) to help avoid symptoms ofwithdrawalthat can happen if you stop taking the medication abruptly.
When you might want to use it: When someone stops using asubstance like alcoholor drugs, they may experience symptoms as their body adjusts to no longer having it. This is sometimes referred to as “going through withdrawal.”
What to Expect During Alcohol Withdrawal
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