Quitting substance use"cold turkey" carries very significant risks if the drug you are discontinuing is alcohol, a benzodiazepine, or an opioid. If you’re unfamiliar with the meaning of cold turkey, it is defined as the “abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug.”
Quitting cold turkey is also not advised if you’ve been using any drug in large amounts or for a long time. This is because you may suffer from extreme withdrawal symptoms upon quitting suddenly, such as withLexapro withdrawal.
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The Appeal of Quitting Cold Turkey
For people who are heavy users of alcohol or drugs, quitting cold turkey may be more appealing—for a number of reasons. One is because it can be easier to avoid the drug entirely than to use it moderately when your usual mode is to take it in an unrestrained manner.
Plus, some people feel that they can more easily separate themselves from the world of drug use if they do so completely. Quitting cold turkey enables them to avoid all the people, places, and other reminders of the substance so they canstart sobrietyafresh.
Risks and Withdrawal Symptoms
Quitting some substances cold turkey can be dangerous to do on your own because of the way the nervous system adapts to certain high-dependency drugs. Abruptly stopping these drugs can cause serious and potentially life-threatening medical issues, including seizures, heart problems, andpsychosis.
Another danger of quitting cold turkey is that your body loses its tolerance to the substance consumed. So, if you relapse and then take your usual amount of the drug, you have a higher risk ofoverdose.
Alcohol Withdrawal
Developingdelirium tremens(DTs) is the main risk of alcohol withdrawal. Also known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome, this complication can occur when people suddenly stop drinking. It is more likely following long-term, heavy alcohol use and is potentially fatal, with a mortality rate of around 5%.
Symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal typically begin 6 to 24 hours after a person has their last drink and may include:
While the progression of symptoms varies from one person to the next, the severity of symptoms can predict the risk of death.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Benzodiazepine withdrawalcan also be dangerous, potentially resulting in death if this drug is stopped suddenly.Abruptly quitting benzodiazepines can also result in seizures.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal is common in people who abruptly cease the use of this type of drug after taking it for more than three to four weeks and, in addition to seizures and death, can result in symptoms such as:
Opioid Withdrawal
Long-term use of opioids such as codeine, heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone can lead to withdrawal symptoms if they are suddenly stopped.Opioid withdrawalis typically not life-threatening but can still be very uncomfortable, creating symptoms such as:
It is recommended that individuals withdrawing from opioids be monitored several times a day to ensure that there are no complications, such as the development of seizures.
Lexapro Withdrawal
Lexapro(escitalopram) is an antidepressant typically used to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Quitting Lexapro cold turkey can result in withdrawal symptoms.
Common Lexapro withdrawal symptoms when suddenly stopping its use include:
These symptoms typically start within a few days of stopping the drug and can last for several weeks. If you take a higher dose of escitalopram, your risk of experiencing withdrawal may be even greater upon discontinuing its use.
Even drugs that have less pronounced physical dependence—such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine—can produce severe and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that can make life uncomfortable and emotionally difficult.
How to Cope With Drug Withdrawal
Medical Supervision for Drug Abstinence Is Safest
This does not mean you can’t become abstinent from these substances. But if you arequitting alcohol, a benzodiazepine, or an opioid, doing so under the management of a physician who can give you medication helps to safely lessen the effects ofwithdrawal.
Doctors affiliated with the American Board of Addiction Medicine have special training in addiction medicine and are particularly helpful in managing withdrawal safely.
In many cases, a brief time in detox can be the safest option so that medical staff is on hand in case of an emergency. The staff can also help with providing nutrition, hydration, and medications intravenously if you are experiencing significant nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea during your withdrawal.
If you choose to detox on your own, meeting regularly with your healthcare provider can help ensure that you remain well throughout the process. They may prescribe you a medication to make detoxing easier, depending on the drug you are withdrawing from.
How to Feel Better During Withdrawal
When to Call 911
If you or someone you know is showing signs of a heart attack, seizure, or changes in consciousness while quitting cold turkey, immediate medical attention is required.Symptoms of a heart attack may include:
If you or someone you know is experiencing any concerning physical or neurological signs while quitting cold turkey, call 911 immediately.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you don’t drink often, quitting alcohol cold turkey typically doesn’t present any issues. However, if you regularly consume alcohol or tend to drink heavily, stopping drinking abruptly can be dangerous. Working with your healthcare provider can help you stop your alcohol use safely.Stop this drug abruptly and you can experience Lexapro withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms most common when suddenly stopping Lexapro include dizziness, irritability, nausea or vomiting, headaches, and prickling or tingling of the skin (paresthesia).The length of withdrawal symptoms varies depending on the substance used. For instance, you can experience withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol for up to 48 hourswhile withdrawal symptoms from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Lexapro can last several weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t drink often, quitting alcohol cold turkey typically doesn’t present any issues. However, if you regularly consume alcohol or tend to drink heavily, stopping drinking abruptly can be dangerous. Working with your healthcare provider can help you stop your alcohol use safely.
Stop this drug abruptly and you can experience Lexapro withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms most common when suddenly stopping Lexapro include dizziness, irritability, nausea or vomiting, headaches, and prickling or tingling of the skin (paresthesia).
The length of withdrawal symptoms varies depending on the substance used. For instance, you can experience withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol for up to 48 hourswhile withdrawal symptoms from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Lexapro can last several weeks.
What Is Precipitated Withdrawal?
12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Cold turkey.Lerner A, Klein M.Dependence, withdrawal and rebound of CNS drugs: an update and regulatory considerations for new drugs development.Brain Communic. 2019;1(1):fcz025. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcz025Joy PS, Kumar G.Delirium tremens leads to poor outcomes for acute coronary syndrome.Cardiology. 2015;132:172-175. doi:10.1159/000435781Fluyau D, Revadigar N, Manobiando BE.Challenges of the pharmacological management of benzodiazepine withdrawal, dependence, and discontinuation.Therap Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(5):147-168. doi:10.1177/2045125317753340Brett J, Murnion B.Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(5):152-155. doi:18773/austprescr.2015.055World Health Organization.Clinical guidelines for withdrawal management and treatment of drug dependence in closed settings.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).Yasui-Furukori N, Hashimoto K, Tsuchimine S, et al.Characteristics of escitalopram discontinuation syndrome: A preliminary study.Clin Neuropharmacol. 2016;39(3):125-127. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000139Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Detoxification and substance abuse treatment [internet]:4 physical detoxification services for withdrawal from specific substances.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Jesse S, Bråthen G, Ferrara M, et al.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management.Acta Neurolog Scandinavica. 2016;135(1):4-16. doi:10.1111/ane.12671Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: A systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84:72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338
12 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster.Cold turkey.Lerner A, Klein M.Dependence, withdrawal and rebound of CNS drugs: an update and regulatory considerations for new drugs development.Brain Communic. 2019;1(1):fcz025. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcz025Joy PS, Kumar G.Delirium tremens leads to poor outcomes for acute coronary syndrome.Cardiology. 2015;132:172-175. doi:10.1159/000435781Fluyau D, Revadigar N, Manobiando BE.Challenges of the pharmacological management of benzodiazepine withdrawal, dependence, and discontinuation.Therap Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(5):147-168. doi:10.1177/2045125317753340Brett J, Murnion B.Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(5):152-155. doi:18773/austprescr.2015.055World Health Organization.Clinical guidelines for withdrawal management and treatment of drug dependence in closed settings.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).Yasui-Furukori N, Hashimoto K, Tsuchimine S, et al.Characteristics of escitalopram discontinuation syndrome: A preliminary study.Clin Neuropharmacol. 2016;39(3):125-127. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000139Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Detoxification and substance abuse treatment [internet]:4 physical detoxification services for withdrawal from specific substances.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Jesse S, Bråthen G, Ferrara M, et al.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management.Acta Neurolog Scandinavica. 2016;135(1):4-16. doi:10.1111/ane.12671Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: A systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84:72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merriam-Webster.Cold turkey.Lerner A, Klein M.Dependence, withdrawal and rebound of CNS drugs: an update and regulatory considerations for new drugs development.Brain Communic. 2019;1(1):fcz025. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcz025Joy PS, Kumar G.Delirium tremens leads to poor outcomes for acute coronary syndrome.Cardiology. 2015;132:172-175. doi:10.1159/000435781Fluyau D, Revadigar N, Manobiando BE.Challenges of the pharmacological management of benzodiazepine withdrawal, dependence, and discontinuation.Therap Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(5):147-168. doi:10.1177/2045125317753340Brett J, Murnion B.Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(5):152-155. doi:18773/austprescr.2015.055World Health Organization.Clinical guidelines for withdrawal management and treatment of drug dependence in closed settings.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).Yasui-Furukori N, Hashimoto K, Tsuchimine S, et al.Characteristics of escitalopram discontinuation syndrome: A preliminary study.Clin Neuropharmacol. 2016;39(3):125-127. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000139Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Detoxification and substance abuse treatment [internet]:4 physical detoxification services for withdrawal from specific substances.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Jesse S, Bråthen G, Ferrara M, et al.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management.Acta Neurolog Scandinavica. 2016;135(1):4-16. doi:10.1111/ane.12671Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: A systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84:72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338
Merriam-Webster.Cold turkey.
Lerner A, Klein M.Dependence, withdrawal and rebound of CNS drugs: an update and regulatory considerations for new drugs development.Brain Communic. 2019;1(1):fcz025. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcz025
Joy PS, Kumar G.Delirium tremens leads to poor outcomes for acute coronary syndrome.Cardiology. 2015;132:172-175. doi:10.1159/000435781
Fluyau D, Revadigar N, Manobiando BE.Challenges of the pharmacological management of benzodiazepine withdrawal, dependence, and discontinuation.Therap Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(5):147-168. doi:10.1177/2045125317753340
Brett J, Murnion B.Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(5):152-155. doi:18773/austprescr.2015.055
World Health Organization.Clinical guidelines for withdrawal management and treatment of drug dependence in closed settings.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).
Yasui-Furukori N, Hashimoto K, Tsuchimine S, et al.Characteristics of escitalopram discontinuation syndrome: A preliminary study.Clin Neuropharmacol. 2016;39(3):125-127. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000139
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Detoxification and substance abuse treatment [internet]:4 physical detoxification services for withdrawal from specific substances.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
Jesse S, Bråthen G, Ferrara M, et al.Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management.Acta Neurolog Scandinavica. 2016;135(1):4-16. doi:10.1111/ane.12671
Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: A systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84:72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338
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