Medicines and prescriptions
What Is Physical Dependence? Not the Same as Addiction
Physical dependence · say it: FIZ-ih-kul dih-PEN-dunssAlso written: drug dependence, physiological dependence, dependence
Short answer
Physical dependence means the body has adapted to a medicine, so stopping it suddenly causes withdrawal symptoms. It is not the same as addiction.
What it means
Physical dependence happens when the body gets used to a medicine taken regularly. If the medicine is stopped suddenly or the dose drops quickly, withdrawal symptoms can appear. These vary by medicine and may include anxiety, sweating, sleep problems, aches, a fast heartbeat or, with some medicines, more serious effects such as seizures.
Labels for opioids, benzodiazepines, some sleep medicines, some antidepressants and some others mention physical dependence so that people do not stop suddenly. The warning is telling you that when it is time to stop, your prescriber can plan a gradual reduction (taper) to keep withdrawal symptoms low.
Physical dependence is not the same as addiction. Addiction involves craving and continuing to use despite harm. A person can be physically dependent on a medicine they take exactly as prescribed, without being addicted.
Where you may see it
- Opioid and benzodiazepine labels under 'Drug abuse and dependence'
- Medication Guides
- Pain clinic and psychiatry letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Physical dependence can develop with continued use. Do not abruptly discontinue in a physically dependent patient.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not mean you are addicted.
- It does not mean you did anything wrong; it is an expected effect of some medicines.
- It does not mean you can never stop; a gradual taper usually helps.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Physical dependence”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Physical dependence”
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💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Physical dependence”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Alprazolam
a benzodiazepine, a type of central nervous system medicine
- Clonazepam
a benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that slows activity in the central nervous system
- Diazepam
A benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that slows activity in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
- Lorazepam
A benzodiazepine, a type of anxiety medicine
- Prednisone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine that works like the adrenocortical (adrenal gland) steroids the body makes naturally
- Tramadol
an opioid pain medicine, also called an opioid analgesic
- Zolpidem Tartrate
a sleep medicine of the imidazopyridine class. The label describes it as a GABA A receptor positive modulator.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Physical dependence” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “physical dependence”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.