Addiction - Cannabinoid Withdrawal?

[Boca Bitch]

I've heard of it before, but am unaware of the symptoms.

My friend SWIM is a regular smoker (almost every day for the last 7 months) and has developed a high tolerance... he can go through an 1/8 oz. a day. Today, he drank and smoked the entire day. By about 2:00 a.m. he sobered up, and by about 3:30 a.m., he started feeling off.

He described that he felt general anxiety, restlessness, appeared to have tachycardia (elevated heart rate), and he kept cold flashing.

Is this symptomatic of cannabis withdrawal? What type of withdrawal is it? Similar to that of alcohol, benzos, and opiates (caused by a large dose, but can be avoided by slowly weening off the drug), or like that of monoamine stimulants (withdrawal can be prolonged but is inevitable, and will only increase in intensity with repeated doseings). I would think it more likely to be similar to depressant withdrawal, but I ask because cannabinoids have some atypical physiological and psychotrophic properties from the other CNS depressants.

[Milk man]

Probably more like a crash or comedown. Swiy friend smoked and drank all day, what did he expect? Swiy friend wouldn't be getting a withdrawal at this early in the process. Swim finds a good nights rest will kill most of the short-term unwanted cannabis effects. Or go exercise, it is amazing how much better you will feel.

BTW, while swim wasn't a daily smoker as long as swiy has been(3-4 months maybe) swim was smoking similiar amounts. Depending on the tasks needed to be done that day, he would smoke anywhere from 3-10 times a day. Swim recently stopped and the only real withdrawal symptom he is getting is lack of hunger. Then again, his sleep hasn't been as restful and deep but swim gotta pay the piper. Try getting some exercise, the endophins kick thc's butt(workout high >> multi-daily smoke high).

Here are the withdrawal symptoms of cannabis:

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

• mild to moderate, non life-threatening withdrawal symptoms occur after daily use in some users. These may last for 1-6 weeks after cessation of use and can include anxiety, anhedonia (reduced experience of pleasure), headaches, general unease/discomfort, difficulty sleeping, and a desire to smoke pot. Severity of symptoms is related to frequency of use and individual sensitivity.
• slight loss of appetite
• finding non-stoned life a bit dull, increased boredom

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabi..._effects.shtml

Reputation Comments on this post:

good point re: coming down

[Shampoo]

Originally Posted by Boca Bitch

My friend SWIM is a regular smoker (almost every day for the last 7 months) and has developed a high tolerance... he can go through an 1/8 oz. a day. Today, he drank and smoked the entire day. By about 2:00 a.m. he sobered up, and by about 3:30 a.m., he started feeling off.

He described that he felt general anxiety, restlessness, appeared to have tachycardia (elevated heart rate), and he kept cold flashing.

Is this symptomatic of cannabis withdrawal? What type of withdrawal is it? Similar to that of alcohol, benzos, and opiates (caused by a large dose, but can be avoided by slowly weening off the drug), or like that of monoamine stimulants (withdrawal can be prolonged but is inevitable, and will only increase in intensity with repeated doseings). I would think it more likely to be similar to depressant withdrawal, but I ask because cannabinoids have some atypical physiological and psychotrophic properties from the other CNS depressants.

Many of the symptoms you describe are indicative of Cannabis withdrawal, however the time frame described does not match up. The symptoms of Cannabis withdrawal usually precipitate 36-72 hours after the cessation of heavy, long term ingestion.

Just to clarify, your friend SWIM spent all day smoking Cannabis (~1/8th oz.) and drinking (I assume alcohol). Then, after a whole day of ingesting CNS depressants, he stayed up pretty late and felt, at about 3:30am, anxiety, restlessness, tachycardia and cold flashes? Sounds like he was exhausted (physically and psychologically, accounting for restlessness and anxiety), probably dehydrated (accounting for cold-flashes), and "coming down" off of a high-dose, long duration administration of a GABA agonist mixed with large doses of a CB1 agonist. If any withdrawal is being experienced, it is most likely due to the GABAergic activity and not the CB activity.

Has your friend experienced this when simply drinking all day, without the use of cannabis? or have they experienced this when using cannabis all day, without the use of alcohol?

[420massacre]

Originally Posted by Shampoo

Many of the symptoms you describe are indicative of Cannabis withdrawal, however the time frame described does not match up. The symptoms of Cannabis withdrawal usually precipitate 36-72 hours after the cessation of heavy, long term ingestion.

Just to clarify, your friend SWIM spent all day smoking Cannabis (~1/8th oz.) and drinking (I assume alcohol). Then, after a whole day of ingesting CNS depressants, he stayed up pretty late and felt, at about 3:30am, anxiety, restlessness, tachycardia and cold flashes? Sounds like he was exhausted (physically and psychologically, accounting for restlessness and anxiety), probably dehydrated (accounting for cold-flashes), and "coming down" off of a high-dose, long duration administration of a GABA agonist mixed with large doses of a CB1 agonist. If any withdrawal is being experienced, it is most likely due to the GABAergic activity and not the CB activity.

Has your friend experienced this when simply drinking all day, without the use of cannabis? or have they experienced this when using cannabis all day, without the use of alcohol?

thats so true, if you think cannabis "withdrawal" is bad then dont ever do opiates you wont be able to stand them lol. swim used to smoke about a half o every 3 days to himself. and that wasn't even trying to smoke as much as possible. Sure if your coming off any kind of drug you'll be feeling depressed or something like that, but for weed... the "withdrawal" isnt even that noticeable.

[Boca Bitch]

Originally Posted by 420massacre

thats so true, if you think cannabis "withdrawal" is bad then dont ever do opiates you wont be able to stand them lol. swim used to smoke about a half o every 3 days to himself. and that wasn't even trying to smoke as much as possible. Sure if your coming off any kind of drug you'll be feeling depressed or something like that, but for weed... the "withdrawal" isnt even that noticeable.

SWIM has been there and done that.. :P

And according to him, opiate withdrawal is indeed pure hell, but he still finds that from coke and amp to be the worst.

The ethanol withdrawal is not overwhelming or untolerable, but instead an inconvience, because he already has insomnia and anxiety.

However, he has found the solution in melatonin supplements, which helped relieve some of his anxiety and made it possible for him to sleep. Perhaps it was the combination of alcohol withdrawal and depleted melatonin reserves from heavy cannabis use that caused the symptoms he experienced?

[Boca Bitch]

He only experiences this with cannabis, whether alcohol is used in combination or not, he appears to suffer anxiety at the tail-end of almost every high. Last night was just the most intense, he reported feeling manic in general.

He most definitely is addicted, this has been established, as he constantly craves it when sober.

[Milk man]

Originally Posted by Boca Bitch

He only experiences this with cannabis, whether alcohol is used in combination or not, he appears to suffer anxiety at the tail-end of almost every high. Last night was just the most intense, he reported feeling manic in general.

He most definitely is addicted, this has been established, as he constantly craves it when sober.

It may be more a habit than an addiction. Swim loved everything about roasting bowls, but the real problem he had with quitting was getting out of the routine of smoking. i.e. come home smoke a bowl, make food then smoke a bowl before eating, smoke a bowl before taking the dog for a walk, smoke a bowl then go to a friends house to smoke another bowl(lol)....

[Boca Bitch]

Umm.. it most definitely is addiction. He craves smoking, and suffers extreme anxiety if he cannot.