Marijuana Weed Withdrawal: Symptoms & Timeline

The first days and weeks after quitting marijuana can be a rollercoaster of thoughts, physical symptoms, and emotions. Though we provide a general timeline of typical withdrawal symptoms, everyone is different. Your experience with withdrawal is influenced by how much https://sober-house.org/what-is-animal-therapy-all-you-need-to-know/ and how long you’ve used as well as a host of biological and psychosocial factors that make your experience wholly unique. So, use this as a general outline to mentally prepare yourself for what’s to come, but don’t be alarmed if your experience is a little different.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

If you’re stopping cannabis use after regular intake, face licking and wet-dog shakes are not likely to figure among the symptoms you will experience. The severity of CWS among humans “is dependent on the amount of cannabis used pre-cessation, gender, and heritable and several environmental factors,” the German researchers https://sober-home.org/review-answer-house-sober-living/ noted. Women, they wrote, tended to report stronger symptoms of CWS, and their experience included more physical discomfort, nausea, and stomach pain. Still, many people who stop using cannabis experience physical and psychological symptoms. That’s because your body has to adjust to not having a regular supply of THC.

How severe are cannabis withdrawal symptoms?

This is because a user will usually increase the amount of marijuana they consume. When this happens, discontinuing use or even reducing THC consumption can lead to marijuana withdrawal symptoms as the body adjusts and craves the substance. Some people may experience very severe marijuana withdrawal symptoms, while others may not experience any at all. While some medications exist to help people detox from drugs like heroin and cocaine more easily, there is currently no specific taper medication for marijuana withdrawal.

1. In the first few days, you can expect to experience difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and irritability or anxiety.
2. Other benefits include improvement in relationships, school or work performance, financial situation, and overall health.
3. If you think that your marijuana use is problematic, you may have an addiction.
4. According to Daniele Piomelli, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for the Study of Cannabis at the University of California, Irvine, dependency is super common and doesn’t necessarily indicate problematic usage.
5. There are many misconceptions about whether people can become addicted to cannabis.
6. When a craving strikes, employ that method or healthy distraction you’ve practiced again and again.

How do trees and green spaces enhance our health?

Detoxing from marijuana isn’t considered as dangerous as detoxing from other substances. However, it can be beneficial to seek professional help and support to ensure safety and success. Although withdrawing from marijuana is unlikely to cause any life-threatening symptoms, addicts may make poor decisions when withdrawing, which could lead to life-threatening situations.

The above medications may have side effects, so speak to your doctor to decide if taking them would be right for you. A 2021 study also found that nearly one-third of female cannabis users ages 50–64 and one-fifth of those ages over 65 are using it nearly daily. Among male users, more than one-third of people in all age groups reported using it nearly daily, and more than 40% of those over 65. Has obtained funding from Pfizer (GRAND Awards, including salary support) for investigator‐initiated projects. Has some in‐kind donation of cannabis product from Aurora and medication donation from Pfizer and Bioprojet and was provided a coil for TMS study from Brainsway. Has obtained industry funding from Canopy (through research grants handled by CAMH or University of Toronto), Bioprojet, ACS and Alkermes.

Cannabis (Marijuana) Withdrawal: Effects & Timeline

For those who began using marijuana as adults and then quit, cognitive deficits may be reversible. The THC content has increased from about 4 percent in the 1990s to over 15 percent in 2018, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Multiple studies have linked the use of high potency marijuana to a higher risk of psychosis. Although many states have now legalized marijuana for medical use and, in some instances, for recreational use that does not mean smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana is without risk.

It is important to develop a social network with other people who do not use marijuana, drugs, or alcohol. Be sure to tell them that marijuana withdrawal is playing a role in how you are feeling. If you say you are depressed or anxious without mentioning you’re going through weed withdrawal, you may be prescribed medication that can present its own set of dependence issues. While some worry that weed withdrawal can result in physical symptoms involving the heart, research indicates that abruptly stopping heavy cannabis use does not cause major changes in blood pressure or heart rate.

If a person does not drink enough water over several days or even weeks, they can easily become dehydrated. Dehydration will likely deplete nutrients that the body needs to maintain optimal health. If dehydration becomes severe enough, it can cause potentially fatal seizures. Anxiety can be a sign of cannabis intoxication, but it is also a symptom of cannabis withdrawal. As with irritability, it can be helpful to remember that your worries and fears are common weed withdrawal symptoms.

You can try out behavioral therapy with a licensed clinical psychologist. Common treatment modalities include cognitive behavioral therapy, for example. The content on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Irritability and mood effects can also negatively impact personal relationships and work productivity. While the typical effects of marijuana consumption can include feeling mellow or relaxed or getting the “munchies,” cannabis withdrawal symptoms tend to reside on the opposite end of the spectrum. Sometimes, people can experience withdrawal symptoms such as https://rehabliving.net/steve-harwell-in-hospice-smash-mouth-singer-dying/ cravings, mood swings, depression, or anxiety for weeks, months, or years after discontinuing use. It’s important to remember that this isn’t always the case, and most people will begin to feel better within a much shorter timeframe. But even those who reported using marijuana less than once a week experienced weed withdrawal symptoms of moderate intensity.