What describes the reaction experienced by a client who shows anxiety and tremors after running out of pain medication?

The reaction experienced by a client showing anxiety and tremors after running out of pain medication clearly indicates physical dependence. Physical dependence occurs when the body has adapted to the presence of a drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms—such as anxiety and tremors—when the medication is suddenly discontinued.

In this scenario, the client's physiological responses suggest that their body has come to rely on the medication to function normally. When the medication is no longer available, the absence can trigger a variety of withdrawal symptoms that manifest physically, as seen with the tremors, along with psychological symptoms such as anxiety.

This differs from other types of dependence, such as cognitive or psychological dependence, which are more related to the emotional or mental reliance on a substance rather than the physical withdrawal symptoms that denote physical dependence. Overall, the combination of anxiety and tremors paints a clear picture of the body reacting to the lack of a substance it has been conditioned to expect, reinforcing the identification of physical dependence in this context.