What term describes when a person experiences withdrawal symptoms without their medication?

The term that describes when a person experiences withdrawal symptoms without their medication is physical dependence. Physical dependence occurs when the body has adapted to the drug's presence, leading to changes in normal bodily functions. If the medication is suddenly reduced or stopped, the individual may experience withdrawal symptoms, which can include a range of physiological effects such as nausea, sweating, tremors, and anxiety.

This phenomenon underscores the body's reliance on the substance to maintain a stable state. When the substance is removed, the body struggles to regain its equilibrium, resulting in withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological dependence, on the other hand, involves emotional or mental reliance on a substance, often characterized by cravings rather than the physical withdrawal symptoms associated with physical dependence. Tolerance refers to a condition where increasing doses of the medication are required to achieve the same effect due to the body's adaptation to the drug, but it does not directly imply withdrawal symptoms. Adverse reactions describe unwanted and harmful effects that can occur from medication use, but they are not specifically linked to the withdrawal process.