Substance-induced Anxiety Disorder

Sometimes the use of specific substances or medications or withdrawal from their use may initiate an anxiety disorder that is etiologically related to physiological effects of the substance. The most well-known substances and medications that can produce anxiety disorders are:

It is possible, and indeed it is the experience of most patients with substance-induced anxiety disorder, that they have used or been exposed to the substance or medication many times or for long periods of time without ever having experienced anxiety symptoms, in relation to the use of the substance or medication. Usually, the symptoms of a substance-induced anxiety disorder subside within 1 month after discontinuation of the substance.  However, it is not uncommon to experience the anxiety symptoms after the first month of discontinuation. In cases such as these, the diagnosis may change to another anxiety disorder, depending on the clinical picture of the patient. 

Important notice: You should not reach the decision that you or the person you have in mind, when reading the above clinical description, suffers from a substance-induced anxiety disorder. We encourage you to seek professional advice, if you feel that you or the persons you care about meet one or more of the clinical criteria.