Syndrome that appears in people who have been regularly using marijuana and then stop. It is estimated that about 9 percent of regular marijuana users may experience withdrawal symptoms after quitting.
It occurs as a result of chemical changes in the brain that occur after prolonged, regular use of the substance.
Symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, nausea, loss of appetite, headache, tremors, and mood swings. They appear within the first 24 to 72 hours after stopping marijuana use and can last up to several weeks.
Diagnosis is based on the patient's clinical presentation and history of use. The health professional can determine the severity of the symptoms and rule out other illnesses that may be causing the symptoms.
Treatment includes psychotherapy, regular exercise, alternative therapies such as meditation and yoga, and medications such as gabapentin, clonidine and antidepressants.
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, United Nations publication, Sales No. E.20.XI.6, Vienna, 2020.
- Connor JP, Stjepanović D, Budney AJ, Le Foll B, Hall WD. Clinical management of cannabis withdrawal. Addiction. 2022 Jul;117(7):2075-2095. doi: 10.1111/add.15743. Epub 2022 Jan 10. PMID: 34791767; PMCID: PMC9110555.
- Bonnet U, Preuss UW. The cannabis withdrawal syndrome: current insights. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2017 Apr 27;8:9-37. doi: 10.2147/SAR.S109576. PMID: 28490916; PMCID: PMC5414724.
- Cousijn, J, & van Duijvenvoorde, A. C. K. (2018). Cognitive and mental health predictors of withdrawal severity during an active attempt to cut down cannabis use. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 301. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.003.
