Marijuana Weed Withdrawal: Symptoms & Treatment

Written by John Joseph Ojendras

Sober living | February 6, 2026

When speaking with your medical professional abouthow to detox from alcohol, they will tell you it’s the first step of acomprehensive rehab program. If you are facing withdrawal symptoms, you should address the root of the problem by getting professional help and undergoing treatment after detox. It’s about rediscovering who you are, building healthy relationships, finding purpose, and creating a life you don’t want to escape from. The withdrawal timeline might seem daunting right now, but thousands of people have walked this path before you. With proper medical support and comprehensive treatment, you can get through withdrawal safely and build a fulfilling life in recovery. The most intense withdrawal symptoms typically occur between 24 and 72 hours after your last drink, with many people experiencing peak symptoms around the 48-hour mark.

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline: First Weeks

  • Medical detox provides monitoring during the highest-risk windows and allows clinicians to respond quickly if symptoms escalate.
  • Pushing through this stage means you are on your way to breaking alcohol’s hold over you, and with the right support, the worst symptoms can be managed safely.
  • At Quest2Recovery, Marine applies her expertise with care and dedication, meet Marine and the rest of our team on the About page.
  • What happens after 2 weeks of no alcohol builds momentum here, your liver continues shedding excess fat while your immune system grows more resilient against infections.

A multidisciplinary team coordinates your care, providing 24/7 medical supervision and emergency response capabilities. The most severe cases require inpatient detoxification in controlled environments where medical staff can quickly address complications and adjust treatment approaches as needed. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s essential to seek medical supervision, as withdrawal can escalate rapidly. The severity of your symptoms often correlates with your drinking history and overall health status.

how long does alcohol withdrawal last

What is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome?

It is also potentially dangerous, especially if you have been alcohol-dependent Alcohol Withdrawal for a long time. Trained professionals can guide you in managing withdrawal symptoms towards a successful recovery. In this stage, seizure risk for those with severe or complicated withdrawal symptoms is at its peak. This stage is mainly defined by generalized tonic-clonic seizures often accompanied by reduced awareness or complete blackout. Symptoms in this stage can manifest as early as 2 hours after an individual stops drinking. Medical experts emphasize that attempting alcohol detox at home, without professional support, significantly increases the risk of dangerous and potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms.

What Happens in Your Body During Detox

Stay away from high-risk places like parties or bars, and consider distancing yourself from friends who drink alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms can increase your risk of marijuana use relapse (using marijuana again). And withdrawal is a significant sign of cannabis (marijuana) use disorder (CUD). Because of this, it’s important to seek professional help to prevent relapse and prevent or treat CUD. Specialist treatment centres use evidence-based approaches to successfully manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce discomfort.

If you’ve been using benzodiazepines, opioids, or other drugs along with alcohol, the detox process becomes more complex. Your medical team needs to know about all substance use to plan safe treatment. Duration and amount of alcohol use is one of the biggest factors. Someone who has been drinking heavily for many years will typically experience more prolonged withdrawal than someone with a shorter history of alcohol use. Higher daily alcohol intake generally leads to more intense and longer-lasting withdrawal. Many people also experience strong cravings for alcohol that can come in waves.

how long does alcohol withdrawal last

The exact duration depends on your individual drinking history, overall health, and other personal factors. Medical professionals can give you a better estimate based on your specific situation. Environmental and psychological factors also play vital roles in withdrawal severity. Access to medical support, stress levels, and the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions can either prolong or ease the withdrawal process. Additionally, age, gender, body composition, and pre-existing medical conditions create unique physiological responses during detoxification. The availability of therapeutic interventions and medication-assisted treatment options can markedly influence both the timeline and intensity of withdrawal symptoms.

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  • This shift directly boosts your daytime energy and mood stability.
  • Lack of thiamine can lead to Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a serious brain disorder.
  • But these symptoms are manageable without medical intervention.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically last between 3 to 14 days, depending on your drinking history and overall health. You’ll notice initial symptoms like anxiety, tremors, and nausea within 6-12 hours after your last drink. The most severe phase occurs between hours, when you’re at highest risk for complications like delirium tremens and seizures. Under proper medical supervision, you’ll start feeling better after the peak period, though complete recovery requires understanding the full withdrawal process. After acute withdrawal ends, many people experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome, which includes milder but persistent symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, sleep problems, and cravings.

Those battling an alcohol use disorder have additional health risks and an increased likelihood of relapse when exposed to AWS. If you don’t get help, withdrawal and relapse will keep happening over and over again. Therefore, to safely manage the physical and emotional repercussions of long-term alcohol misuse, inpatient care or outpatient treatment is often necessary for people with addictions. Severe withdrawal symptoms warrant immediate medical attention, as studies indicate a 1-4% mortality rate with delirium tremens episodes.

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