Tobacco Withdrawal 575
Tobacco Withdrawal
Diagnostic Criteria 292.0 (F17.203)
A. Daily use of tobacco for at least several weeks.
B. Abrupt cessation of tobacco use, or reduction in the amount of tobacco used, followed
within 24 hours by four (or more) of the following signs or symptoms:
1. Irritability, frustration, or anger.
2. Anxiety.
3. Difficulty concentrating.
4. Increased appetite.
5. Restlessness.
6. Depressed mood.
7. Insomnia.
C. The signs or symptoms in Criterion B cause clinically significant distress or impairment
in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. The signs or symptoms are not attributed to another medical condition and are not bet-
ter explained by another mental disorder, including intoxication or withdrawal from an-
other substance.
Coding note:  The ICD-9-CM code is 292.0. The ICD-10-CM code for tobacco withdrawal
is F17.203. Note that the ICD-10-CM code indicates the comorbid presence of a moderate
or severe tobacco use disorder, reflecting the fact that tobacco withdrawal can only occur
in the presence of a moderate or severe toba cco use disorder. It is not permissible to code
a comorbid mild tobacco use disorder with tobacco withdrawal.
Diagnostic Features
Withdrawal symptoms impair the ability to st op tobacco use. The symptoms after absti-
nence from tobacco are in large part due to nicotine deprivation. Symptoms are much
more intense among individuals who smoke cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco than
among those who use nicotine medications. This difference in symptom intensity is likely
due to the more rapid onset and higher levels of nicotine with cigarette smoking. Tobacco