THC Withdrawal Duration
THC withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 24-72 hours after cessation, peak during the first week, and last approximately 1-2 weeks, though some subacute symptoms may persist for up to 6 months in heavy users. 1, 2
Timeline of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome
Onset and Peak
- Symptoms typically begin 24-48 hours after cessation 2
- Peak intensity occurs between days 2-6 of abstinence 2, 3
- Onset is dependent on the half-life of THC elimination and varies based on consumption patterns 1
Duration
- Most acute withdrawal symptoms resolve within 1-2 weeks 1, 2
- Some symptoms, particularly psychological ones, may persist for up to 3 weeks in heavy users 2
- Subacute symptoms can occasionally last up to 6 months in cases of prolonged heavy use 4
Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Psychological Symptoms (Most Common)
- Irritability and anger
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances and vivid dreams
- Depressed mood
- Restlessness
- Decreased appetite 2, 5
Physical Symptoms (Less Common)
Risk Factors for Experiencing Withdrawal
The likelihood and severity of withdrawal symptoms depend on consumption patterns:
High Risk
- Consuming >1.5g/day of inhaled cannabis
- Using >300mg/day CBD-dominant oil
- Using >20mg/day THC-dominant oil 1, 6
Moderate Risk
- Using cannabis products with unknown CBD/THC content more than 2-3 times per day 1
Low Risk
- Consuming ≤300mg/day of smoked CBD-dominant cannabis 6
Neurobiological Recovery Timeline
- CB1 receptors in the brain begin to reverse downregulation within the first 2 days of abstinence
- Receptors return to normal functioning within approximately 4 weeks of abstinence 4
- This neurobiological recovery timeline may explain the duration of withdrawal symptoms 4
Special Considerations
- Women often report stronger withdrawal symptoms than men, including more physical symptoms like nausea and stomach pain 4
- The presence of comorbid mental health conditions may complicate and potentially prolong withdrawal 2
- Polysubstance users may experience overlapping withdrawal syndromes that can be difficult to distinguish 5
Clinical Significance
The cannabis withdrawal syndrome is clinically significant as symptoms may precipitate relapse to cannabis use, particularly during the peak withdrawal period (days 2-6) 2, 3. The magnitude and time course of cannabis withdrawal appears comparable to tobacco and other withdrawal syndromes 3.