Cannabis PAWS from unintended reduced use?

**Posts:** 3 · by **FreakedOut** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 2:08 am

Hi everyone

I just discovered this site and I’m having chills reading everyone’s experiences because it’s so familiar.

I have been on what my doctors have called a month long anxiety attack…

I am the biggest cannabis user I know; I’ve used daily for probably about 15 years. For the past few years I’ve been going through a gram of distillate every 4-6 days, on top of smoking flower nearly daily.

About a month ago I decided to go into the dr for gut issues… I figured they’d want a colonoscopy and if that came out good I’d forget about it. I started hitting my pen less and less at that point, not really even consciously but I just felt crappy and wasn’t hitting it as much.

As the next couple of weeks went on I started having daily panic attacks in the morning… high pulse/bp, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, brain fog, night sweats, and the inability to shake the feeling that something terrible was happening. It spiraled into thoughts that I had cancer… I made an emergency dentist appt to check for oral cancer after not having seen a dentist for years. I just got home from the ER today after thinking I was having a heart attack… they found no issue with my heart nor my lungs and sent me home.

When I got home today that’s when it fully set in just how much I’ve (unintentionally) cut back on my cannabis use. My 1gram distillate cart that usually lasted less than a week is now on week 4 and I’m only half way through it. I picked up an ounce of flower a month ago when this started and I’m realizing I haven’t even touched it. Last night I took a couple hits of my pen and got very dizzy… so now I’m questioning if I want to hit it tonight, or if it’s going to freak me out again.

I really didn’t intend to cut back, but obviously I did and my experience has been f*cked. Someone here said they were having panic attacks after afternoon naps and that is exactly what’s happened to me after never ever having that issue before.

I’ve been on anxiety meds for years so anytime I get like this my drs just tell me to try to relax… but I’m wondering if what I’m experiencing is paws from cannabis withdrawal, even though I haven’t entirely quit.

Honestly, I don’t really even want to quit - I just want to feel normal again but right now the thought of getting back into my regular dependent cannabis routine is freaking me out and don’t know what to do.

I guess I’m wondering if it’s better to stay on the reduced use I’ve been on lately (couple of evening pen hits) just to keep it in my system, or if I need to try and just quit and get my brain back to normal sobriety after being dependent on thc for so long…

Is it possible to get paws from simply cutting back use? I’m sorry if this is inappropriate given that I’m not actively trying to quit, any insight is greatly appreciated.

**Posts:** 44 · by **PowerOfMyMind** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 5:34 pm

Hi FreakedOut, Reading your story it does seem like you're starting to experience withdrawal. Withdrawal starts to happen as soon as the amount of thc that someone is use to consuming is dropped. Its the same with all drugs i believe.
Tbh im not sure what to advise you in this instance.. the only thing i would say is you could slowly increase again and see if the symptoms subside which would likely confirm that is is withdrawal you're experiencing.
When withdrawing people usually have 1 to 2 phase of withdrawal.
1st phase is acute withdrawal which can be a few weeks of symptoms which seem to subside somewhat over another few weeks.
If the use of the individual is high % regular thc use its likely that they will then suffer the 2nd phase of withdrawal which is known as PAWS.
Not everyone experiences PAWS but data does suggest that heavy high thc use increases the likelihood of 2nd phase of PAWS.
In view of this you may try to reduce down / taper slowly and stop altogether to go through withdrawal and hope its only acute withdrawal you experience.
What medication do you take for anxiety out of interest?

**Posts:** 328 · by **SparkleFly12** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 6:18 pm

Yeah sounds like weed related paws. Its a reason I decided to quit regular use, cause I didn't want to feel like sh** if I wasn't able 5o smoke.

**Posts:** 3 · by **FreakedOut** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:22 pm

Thank you for the responses!

My anti anxiety meds are citalopram 20mg and amitryptiline 50mg.

I also just got some blood work back that has indicated elevated metanephrine/normatenephrine which could entail a tumor on my adrenal gland(s).

Has anyone had any experience in relation to THC and those serum metrics? I don’t think they’re related, however comparing symptoms of cannabis paws and adrenal gland tumors I’m finding they are rather similar.

So… I could have a tumor and/or paws at this point, unfortunately. I am very scared.

**Posts:** 44 · by **PowerOfMyMind** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:12 am

I think its highly unlikely to be a tumor on your adrenal gland although im no docter. I think its all paws/withdrawal related. Try not to look to far into it as you will scare yourself unnecessarily.
How are you doing today? What time zone are you in?

**Posts:** 3 · by **FreakedOut** » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:18 pm

Thank you - while the adrenal gland tumor is rare my blood results in that regard are concerning. I have a ct scan on Monday to either identify or deny a tumor.

I’m in EST

I have slightly increased my thc use but symptoms have not really subsided, unfortunately.

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