Syndrome that occurs in people who have used cannabis regularly and then stop. It is estimated that around 9% of regular cannabis users may experience abstinence symptoms when they stop using.
This is due to chemical changes in the brain that occur after prolonged and regular use of the substance.
Symptoms can include irritability, anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, nausea, loss of appetite, headaches, tremors and mood changes. They appear in the first 24 to 72 hours after stopping cannabis use and can last up to several weeks.
The diagnosis is made clinically and from the patient's medical history. The doctor can determine the severity of the symptoms and rule out other conditions that may be causing them.
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.
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- 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.
