Marijuana withdrawal syndrome: symptoms and causes

The use of any drug is harmful to the person regardless of the type or frequency of use. However, when these habits stop, quite unpleasant symptoms can also appear.

In the case of cannabis, the consequences of marijuana withdrawal syndrome they do not have to be as serious as those caused by heroin wave cocaine. However, they tend to be quite disabling. Next, we explain this syndrome, its symptoms, its causes and its treatment.

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What is marijuana withdrawal syndrome?

We understand marijuana withdrawal syndrome the reaction that originates in the body when a consumer addicted to this substance stops taking it abruptly.

This reaction can be more or less intense depending on the level of addiction of the person, and will manifest itself through physical and psychological withdrawal syndromes.

Withdrawal syndrome it does not have to appear in all those people who stop using marijuana. However, the longer this substance has been smoked, the more likely the symptoms of this syndrome will appear.

The severity of the symptoms is usually not as important as in other substances such as alcohol or cocaine. In addition, the intensity of these will vary from person to person. For example, a person with a very mild dependence on cannabis may have no symptoms or they may be so mild that she can manage them herself.

On the other hand, all those users who have developed a severe cannabis use disorder or an addiction to it, will undoubtedly require treatment by a professional.

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How does marijuana work?

Marijuana is a substance that is made from the hemp or cannabis plant. This is considered as one of the most widely used drugs in the world, seeing the number of consumers increase year after year.

The most common way to consume marijuana is smoked either alone or with tobacco. However, in recent years there has been a trend to drink it or ingest it as an ingredient in some culinary preparations such as pastries.

Due to its effects, cannabis is considered a psychoactive substance. That is, it alters the brain functions of the person who consumes it. Although a single plant contains more than 400 different chemicals, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active chemical component causing changes in the body.

When a person smokes marijuana, this component in inhaled smoke is absorbed by the lungs, which transfer it to the bloodstream. Once in the blood, THC reaches the brain where it acts on cannabinoid receptors.

THC gives way to a series of brain chemical reactions that lead the person to experience a feeling of absolute happiness and relaxation very characteristic of this drug.

This pleasant sensation is due to the fact that most of the brain areas involved in the experimentation of the pleasure, perception of the senses and time, thoughts, concentration, memory and movements, are the ones that harbor the most cannabinoid receptors in the entire brain.

One of the main drawbacks of THC is that it is deposited in fat cells, so it takes the body much longer to eliminate them compared to other narcotic drugs.

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What symptoms does this syndrome present?

Symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal syndrome are very varied and its appearance varies according to the level of consumption of the person. These symptoms can be divided into psychological symptoms or physical symptoms.

Psychological symptoms

• Irritability.
• Sudden aggressive reactions.
• Feeling anxious.
• Feeling sad or depressed
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, nightmares, etc).
• Extreme tiredness or fatigue
• Decreased appetite.

Physical symptoms

• Headaches.
• Excessive sweating.
• Stomach ache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Muscle spasms.
• Fever.

Of all these symptoms, insomnia and depression are the most characteristic from marijuana withdrawal syndrome, as well as nightmares and irritability. As for the physical symptoms, headaches are usually common and can last for weeks.

Through excessive sweating, the body tries to eliminate the toxins that this substance infuses in the body in a natural way.

How is it diagnosed?

There are a series of pre-established guidelines for the diagnosis of marijuana withdrawal syndrome. These guidelines consist of a physical examination and asking a series of questions about the symptoms. In addition, medical staff may order a blood or urine test.

Regarding the diagnostic criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the person must meet a series of criteria or requirements in order to be diagnosed with this syndrome. These requirements are as follows.

Criterion A

There must have been an abrupt cessation of marijuana use. In addition, this use must have been chronic for several months..

Criterion B

The person must present 3 or more of the following symptoms during a week after cessation of consumption:

• Anger or aggressiveness.
• Symptoms of anxiety.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Lack of appetite and weight loss.
• Depressed mood.
• Restlessness.

In addition, all these symptoms have to be accompanied by at least one of these physical symptoms:

• Abdominal pain.
• Muscle contractions or tremors
• Hyperhidrosis.
• Fever.
• Headaches

Criterion C

The symptoms listed above should generate clinically significant discomfort in the patient, as well as interfere with the normal operation of this.

Criterion D

Marijuana withdrawal syndrome will be diagnosed when all of the above criteria cannot be better explained by another disorder, condition, or disease, including withdrawal from other substances.

Treatment

Since the symptoms of this syndrome are mild in most cases, most patients try to control these symptoms on their own. However, and especially in the most serious cases, treatment by professionals will favor the rapid remission of symptoms and increase the probability of success.

These withdrawal symptoms can be treated with medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, always prescribed by a doctor, who will review each case conveniently. It is also important that the person drink plenty of water and try to rest.

The psychological accompaniment will help the patient to maintain motivation and prevent him from relapsing to the use of marijuana or other drugs.

Bibliographic references:

• Curran, H. V., Freeman, T. P., Mokrysz, C., Lewis, D. A., Morgan, C. J. A., Loren H. Parsons (2016). Keep off the grass? Cannabis, cognition and addiction. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17 (5), pp. 293 - 306.