What is NOT a symptom of opioid withdrawal?

In the context of opioid withdrawal, increased alertness is not a symptom typically associated with this condition. Opioid withdrawal is characterized by a range of physical and psychological symptoms that arise when someone who has been using opioids suddenly reduces or stops their intake. Common symptoms include diarrhea, muscle aches, and insomnia, all of which relate to the body's physiological response to the absence of opioids.

During withdrawal, individuals often experience a state of heightened anxiety and discomfort, which includes muscle aches due to the body's dependence on opioids for pain relief. Diarrhea is a result of the gastrointestinal system reacting adversely to the absence of opioids, which normally slow down these processes. Insomnia is also common, as many individuals will struggle with sleep disturbances when going through withdrawal.

In contrast, increased alertness would typically occur in withdrawal from depressants, not from opioids. Opioids act as central nervous system depressants, and withdrawal tends to produce symptoms that are more related to agitation and discomfort rather than alertness. Thus, identifying increased alertness as not being a symptom of opioid withdrawal is supported by the established characteristics of withdrawal syndromes associated with opioid use.