title: Characterizing methamphetamine withdrawal in recently abstinent methamphetamine users: a pilot field study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methamphetamine dependence has become a significant problem, but methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms have not been well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational pilot study was designed to examine withdrawal symptoms, mood, anxiety, cognitive function, and subjective measures of sleep over a 4-week period in six patients entering residential treatment for methamphetamine dependence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms, mood, and anxiety symptoms all resolve fairly quickly within 2 weeks of cessation of methamphetamine. Sleep was disrupted over the course of the 4-week study. No clinically significant alterations in blood pressure or heart rate were identified. This study did not demonstrate any alterations in cognitive function over the 4 weeks of the residential stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study points toward the need for a double-blind, placebo-controlled amphetamine withdrawal paradigm in humans where changes in sleep, cognitive function, and withdrawal measures can be explored more fully.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study extends the literature by pointing toward a methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome that includes alterations in measures of sleep quality and refreshed sleep, early improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms, most striking during the first week, but persisting into the second week.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. mjmancino@uams.edu
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.forename: Brooks W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendelson
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012890:Sleep; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine