What is NOT a symptom of opioid withdrawal?

Opioid withdrawal is characterized by a range of physical and psychological symptoms as the body reacts to the absence of opioids after prolonged use. Common symptoms include diarrhea, muscle aches, and insomnia, all of which align with the body's distress as it adjusts to the absence of the substance.

Increased alertness is not typically associated with opioid withdrawal. Opioids are central nervous system depressants; their withdrawal tends to manifest in symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, and increased sensitivity to pain, rather than a state of heightened alertness. In fact, individuals in withdrawal often feel more anxious or dysphoric rather than alert and focused. Therefore, the assertion that increased alertness is a symptom of opioid withdrawal does not align with the understood clinical presentations associated with the withdrawal syndrome.