Author: John Carter

If cannabis becomes a problem: How to manage withdrawal

While marijuana withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant, the symptoms themselves typically don’t require medical care. If your symptoms are severe or you have a co-existing mental health condition, see your healthcare provider. If you’re feeling angry and anxious after you decrease or stop your use of marijuana, you may be experiencing withdrawal. While the symptoms themselves aren’t dangerous, going through withdrawal can be a warning sign of cannabis use disorder. CUD can significantly impair your life, so it’s important to reach out to your healthcare provider to prevent or treat CUD. Marijuana withdrawal can happen if you stop using marijuana (weed) after regular use.

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If you experience marijuana withdrawal, you may have cannabis use disorder. At Healthgrades, our Editorial Team works hard to develop complete, objective and meaningful health information to help people choose the right doctor, right hospital and right care. Our writers include physicians, pharmacists, and registered nurses with firsthand clinical experience. All condition, treatment and wellness content is medically reviewed by at least one medical professional ensuring the most accurate information possible.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3 in 10 cannabis users develop a cannabis use disorder. The use of cannabis comes with a 10% chance of developing such a disorder. These feelings can often be used to bring about the positive changes you want to make in your life.

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Headaches, like most other symptoms of withdrawing from marijuana use, will usually begin one to three days after quitting and peak two to six days after stopping. This marijuana withdrawal symptom usually fades after two weeks, but some former smokers report continued symptoms for several weeks or even months. After smoking pot heavily for a few months or longer—whether as a regular pattern, in binges, or due to addiction—you may experience withdrawal symptoms when abruptly stopping its use. Working with a provider that has experience effectively treating cannabis withdrawal and cannabis use disorder, like American Addiction Centers, can help you improve your chances of avoiding relapse. Call and let one of our compassionate and experienced Admissions Navigators answer your questions, explain your treatment options, and help you get started on your journey to recovery.

Can I prevent marijuana withdrawal?

Frequent, vivid dreams typically begin about a week after quitting and can last for a month before tapering off. Although some former users report having these types of dreams years after they stop smoking pot. Furthermore, as John C. Umhau explains, “The increased potency of cannabis over the years has caused more people to have significant withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit.”

1. Some people compare it to the feeling you get when trying to quit caffeine.
2. In this case, subjects taking a FAAH inhibitor had reduced cannabis withdrawal symptoms when compared to those who took a placebo.
3. These symptoms are rarely dangerous, and most will stop within about 72 hours after your last use of cannabis.
4. If depression doesn’t lift after a week or two, is impacting functioning, or seems overwhelming, seek help from a healthcare provider or substance abuse counselor.

To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. Forbes Health covers CBD and cannabis products in accordance with FTC guidelines. Learn more about Forbes Health’s practices and policies regarding how we cover CBD and cannabis as a publisher. They will be able to advise on how you can safely reduce cannabis use or stop using cannabis. Cannabis affects the endocannabinoid neurotransmitters in the brain, which are important for many biological processes in the central nervous system.

This article will explore how and why a person can develop withdrawal symptoms from weed, as well as how to treat them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal substance in the U.S. In 2020, over 49 million people 12 years old or older reported using marijuana within the past year.

If you’re concerned about developing CUD, talk to your healthcare provider sooner rather than later. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any medications for marijuana withdrawal, specifically. But researchers are actively studying medications for medically assisted withdrawal (MAW) of marijuana. If necessary, your doctor may refer you to a substance detox or treatment center where trained clinicians will be able to support you during withdrawal. The mood difficulties and physical discomforts of withdrawal peak in the first week of quitting and can last up to 2 weeks. Outpatient rehabilitation programs often require multiple meetings or sessions each week with a therapist, substance use disorder expert, or another mental health specialist.

But even though more and more people are using marijuana and it is less addictive than other drugs, users aren’t exempt from the symptoms of withdrawal. In general, withdrawal happens when your brain and body become used to having a substance in your system. According to the CDC, research has linked cannabis use with numerous negative health consequences. These include memory problems, an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, lung problems from smoke, and mental health symptoms such as those related to anxiety and paranoia.

Fortunately, many non-addictive pharmacologic options exist for anxiety, as well as non-drug treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). But for those who do, these headaches can be very intense, especially during the first few days after quitting. If you continue to feel anxious after a week of discontinuing use, seek professional help. Cannabis use can sometimes cause a substance-induced anxiety disorder. Another consideration is that there may have been an existing anxiety issue before you started using cannabis. Although regular marijuana smokers may not believe that they’re addicted to the drug, experiencing cravings is a hallmark of addiction.

She is also a certified health coach (ACE), certified group exercise instructor and Spinning instructor. In some cases, your provider may order other tests (like blood tests) to make sure your symptoms aren’t due to another condition. But certain symptoms can last up to three weeks or more in people who’d used marijuana very often. These symptoms aren’t life-threatening, but they can be very uncomfortable. Research also shows that the levels of THC in marijuana have been increasing over the past couple of decades. Your doctor may also recommend behavioral therapy to help you to manage an addiction.

Another piece of research suggests that drugs categorized as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors may also help through their impact on endocannabinoid signaling. In this case, subjects taking a FAAH inhibitor had reduced cannabis withdrawal symptoms when compared to those who took a placebo. Your doctor will also be able to recommend medications to help you to manage symptoms of cannabis withdrawal. Be sure to tell them that marijuana withdrawal is playing a role in how you are feeling.