Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome: Symptoms And Causes
The consumption of any drug is harmful to the person regardless of the type or frequency of consumption. 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 or cocaine. However, they tend to be quite disabling. Below, we explain this syndrome, its symptoms, its causes and its treatment.
We understand marijuana withdrawal syndrome the reaction that occurs in the body when a consumer addicted to this substance suddenly stops taking it
This reaction can be more or less intense depending on the person’s level of addiction, and will manifest itself through physical and psychological withdrawal syndromes.
The 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 it is that 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 one person to another For example, a person with a very mild dependence on cannabis may have no symptoms or they may be so mild that they can manage them themselves.
Besides, all those consumers who have developed a severe cannabis use disorder or an addiction to it, will undoubtedly require treatment from a professional.
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 consumed drugs in the world seeing the number of consumers increase year after year.
The most common way to consume marijuana is to smoke it, either alone or accompanied by tobacco. However, in recent years there has been a tendency to drink it or eat it as an ingredient in some culinary preparations such as baking.
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 present 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 rise 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 the majority of brain areas involved in the experience of pleasure, the perception of the senses and time, thoughts, concentration, memory and movements, They are the ones that contain the most cannabinoid receptors in the entire brain
One of the main drawbacks of THC is that it is deposited in fat cells so the body needs much more time to eliminate them compared to other narcotics.
What symptoms does this syndrome present?
The symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal syndrome are very varied and its appearance varies depending on the person’s level of consumption. These symptoms can be divided into psychological symptoms or physical symptoms.
Psychological symptoms
Physical symptoms
Of all these symptoms, insomnia and depression are the most characteristic of marijuana withdrawal syndrome, as well as nightmares and irritability. As for physical symptoms, headaches are usually common and can last for weeks.
Through excessive sweating, the body tries to eliminate the toxins that this substance infers into the body naturally.
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 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. Furthermore, this consumption must have been chronic for several months
Criterion B
The person must present 3 or more of the following symptoms for one week after stopping consumption:
Additionally, all of these symptoms have to be accompanied by at least one of these physical symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Muscle contractions or tremors.
Hyperdrosis
Fever.
Headaches.
Criterion C
The symptoms mentioned above should generate clinically significant discomfort in the patient as well as interfere with its normal operation.
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 withdrawals from other substances.
Treatment
Because 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 paracetamol, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, always prescribed by a doctor, who will review each case appropriately. It is also important that the person drink plenty of water and try to rest.
Psychological support will help the patient maintain motivation and prevent them from relapsing into the use of marijuana or other drugs.
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.
