| abstinence | <psychology> Self-denial, a voluntary refraining from the use of or indulgence in food, stimulants or sexual intercourse. (15 Jan 1998) |
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| abstinence symptoms | A group of morbid symptom's, predominantly erethistic, occurring in an addict who is deprived of his accustomed dose of the addicting agent. Synonym: abstinence symptoms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abstinence syndrome | <syndrome> A constellation of physiologic changes undergone by persons or animals who have become physically dependent on a drug or chemical due to prolonged use at elevated doses, but who are abruptly deprived of that substance. The abstinence syndrome varies with the drug to which dependence has developed. Generally the effects observed are in an opposite direction from those produced by the drug; e.g., the withdrawal syndrome from central nervous system depressants such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines consists of insomnia, restlessness, tremulousness, hallucinations, and, in the extreme, tonic-clonic convulsions which may prove fatal. The onset time and severity of the abstinence syndrome depend upon how rapidly the drug disappears from the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sexual abstinence | Refraining from sexual intercourse. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| neonatal abstinence syndrome | <syndrome> Foetal and neonatal addiction and withdrawal as a result of the mother's dependence on drugs during pregnancy. Withdrawal or abstinence symptoms develop shortly after birth. Symptoms exhibited are loud, high-pitched crying, sweating, yawning and gastrointestinal disturbances. (12 Dec 1998) |