Good info for recovery from cannabis

hey guys, im 4 days in now and this morning I actually feel pretty good, I had cut down my usage for a while before I stopped and limited it to evening use, mostly once a day.
in the past , like, 6 months I have gotten off ssri's (painful but so empowering), opiates, tobacco, then e cigs, and now my last chemical dependency, weed.
I have found the most painful part of the day being around about midday/afternoon, just generally super tense and easily agitated.
found some really useful info from another forum I thought I would share as it could help people out a lot. at least in understanding what is going on with the brain chemistry.

Andrewk3n


Marijuana Withdrawal Made Simple

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I have been a heavy user of cannabis for, well only about 4 years now. I still found it surprisingly hard to quit. I tried many many times to "just stop".. with no success. Just relapses.

This time I tried something a little different. Upon looking into the pharmacology of cannabis, the MAIN aspects of it are really quite simple:

1) Inhibition of GABA to release more DOPAMINE
2) Lowered SEROTONIN (it raises it in low doses.. but I found the threshold for the 'turnaround' for me is only about 75 mg [0.075g], one or two bong rips. I start to feel that 'shaky' feeling)
3) Increased MELATONIN by roughly 4000%
4) CB1 stimulation for increased appetite

There are soooooo many active constituents of cannabis that it'd be nearly impossible to pinpoint the pharmacology of all of them. These are the main neurochemical effects of cannabis on the human brain.

The first 3 are relevant, and the 4th can be, in the withdrawal of cannabis use.

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So really, we're looking at 4 important neurotransmitters here. I'll go into detail on all of them below..

Gaining a better understanding of the neurotransmitters and what indicates an imbalance in what, can help a lot in identifying withdrawal symptoms so that you're able to properly alleviate them.

Although written in 2002, I find it incredibly accurate when it comes to the symptoms of the imbalances. The examples used are fantastic. The drugs said to treat them - wouldn't recommend it. See below.

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GABA

People who use Benzodiazapines may notice a familiar feel between benzos and cannabis. Although they have similar feels, they are achieved in very different ways. Benzos act on GABA receptors to either increase GABA levels in the brain AND/OR give the GABA that's already there more of an effect.

Marijuana's dominant effect is NOT TO INCREASE GABA, but to INHIBIT it. Since GABA hops into the excitatory neurotransmitters to prevent them from firing, when GABA is inhibited, in the case of marijuana use, more of the neurotransmitter DOPAMINE is allowed to fire, giving us feelings of pleasure.

However, since melatonin is increased, and melatonin has some effect on GABA, there are SOME aspects of GABA increase with the marijuana sedation. It's just not significant in comparison.

Basically, this GABA section is just to say that drugs that act on GABA, like benzos, will NOT help with marijuana withdrawal in any significant way. It will help with one small aspect of it, and be counterproductive in a more important one.

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DOPAMINE

So, dopamine is released when we use cannabis. How can we tell? Have a look here for a better understanding of what dopamine feels like:


Quote:
Moderately high Dopamine levels make us on-guard, suspicious, and prone to misinterpret experiences in the environment. Known as an “idea of reference” in psychiatry, we begin thinking unrelated experiences are suddenly directly related to us. People observed talking across the street are now talking about us. As Dopamine increases, it can become so intense that we feel the radio, television, and newspaper contain secret messages directed at us from Hollywood or elsewhere. It’s as though we are attempting to incorporate/add everything we witness into our life. Planes flying overhead are snapping pictures of us and motorists talking on cellular phones are calling in a report on us. Our mind speed increases and races in an attempt to add all we see into our life. In an attempt to make sense, we may become extremely religious, paranoid, or feel we are a very important person. Increased Dopamine also increases the perception of our senses, as though turning up the volume in all our senses – hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch.

As Dopamine levels increase, the noises we heard loudly suddenly become auditory hallucinations. Our inner thoughts are now being heard outside our body. These “voices” begin talking to us, known to take different forms such as derogatory (putting you down), religious topics, command (telling you to do something), or sexual content. Hallucinations (experiencing something that is not truly there in reality) will soon develop in all our senses. We may begin seeing faces in clouds, carpets, or patterns. We may sense the touch of spirits or movements inside our body. We may experience unusual smells or tastes.

High levels of Dopamine in the brain often cause us to lose our contact with reality. As though living in a science-fiction movie, we begin to develop unusual if not bizarre ideas about what is happening to us. With our paranoia, we may experience delusions (false beliefs) of persecution or may think we have super powers (delusions of grandiosity) and can predict the future or read minds. High levels of Dopamine are found in Schizophrenia, drug intoxication, and other psychotic conditions where the ability to distinguish the inner world from the real world is impaired.

Sound familiar to weed-related paranoia? Try taking a walk in the middle of the night, alone, in a quiet area, SOBER. Then try it after 5-10 bong packs. (well not if you're trying to quit..)

The high dopamine becomes addicting to us cannabis users, so when we stop smoking, we feel the symptoms of LOW dopamine. Cravings, restlessness, apathy, lack of focus, stiff muscles, feeling cold, etc.

These feelings can be almost immediately alleviated, naturally, safely, non addictively, with an amino acid called L-Tyrosine. After moderate use (~2g smoked/day), stopping cold turkey, I found my symptoms 80-90% alleviated by simply taking 500 mg capsules of L-Tyrosine throughout the day. I'd usually take about 1 an hour.

L-Tyrosine therapy is indicated for those who have chronically low dopamine, such as heavy cannabis users after stopping. Tyrosine therapy usually involves taking 5 grams to 30 grams of L-Tyrosine every day throughout the day, simply to build your stores back up on your body's protein structures. Eventually, you won't need it anymore, and will feel the effects of perfect dopamine levels without taking anything at all.

L-TYROSINE IS THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST KEY PART OF COMING OFF OF CANNABIS, OR NEARLY ANY ADDICTIVE DRUG (DOPAMINE = ADDICTION)! IT IS "THE SECRET".

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SEROTONIN

Unless you use in SERIOUS moderation (you wouldn't be here on the addiction forums), the effect that cannabis has on serotonin is to lower its levels in the brain. It may do this by inhibiting the 5-HT3a receptor, or this may be entirely unrelated. The inhibition of the 5-HT3a receptor is said to be one of the herbs primary ways of alleviating nausea.

It's unlikely that taking substances to raise serotonin levels would help with a marijuana withdrawal. HOWEVER, if your trigger for smoking was related to serotonin levels that were ALREADY LOW, you may benefit from some L-Tryptophan therapy. Same idea as Tyrosine therapy, except the upper limit is said to be 10 grams per day with L-Tryptophan (as to not disturb sleep cycles).

Of course it would have been counterproductive to treat low serotonin by smoking weed - but not many people even know what low serotonin symptoms are. Therefore it simply feels better to be high with extremely low serotonin than to be sober with moderately low serotonin. The other effects of cannabis overpower the discomfort associated with the drop in serotonin.

Note that these symptoms are almost never present with cannabis use, no matter how much you smoke. This is because the dopamine being released will keep your mood positively biased while you're high. The following are symptoms of rock-bottom serotonin levels:


Quote:
Very low levels of Serotonin typically bring people to the attention of their family physician, their employer, or other sources of help. Severe Serotonin loss produces symptoms that are difficult to ignore. Not only are severe symptoms present, but also the brain’s ideation/thinking becomes very uncomfortable and even torturing. When Serotonin is severely low, you will experience some if not all of the following:

· Thinking speed will increase. You will have difficulty controlling your own thoughts. The brain will focus on torturing memories and you’ll find it difficult to stop thinking about these uncomfortable memories or images.

· You’ll become emotionally numb! You wouldn’t know how you feel about your life, marriage, job, family, future, significant other, etc. It’s as though all feelings have been turned off. Asked by others how you feel – your response might be “I don’t know!”

· Outbursts will begin, typically two types. Crying outbursts will surface, suddenly crying without much warning. Behavioral outbursts will also surface. If you break the lead in a pencil, you throw the pencil across the room. Temper tantrums may surface. You may storm out of offices or public places.

· Escape fantasies will begin. The most common – Hit the Road! The brain will suggest packing up your personal effects and leaving the family and community.

· Memory torture will begin. Your brain, thinking at 100 miles an hour, will search your memories for your most traumatic or unpleasant experiences. You will suddenly become preoccupied with horrible experiences that may have happened ten, twenty, or even thirty years ago. You will relive the death of loved ones, divorce, childhood abuse – whatever the brain can find to torture you with – you’ll feel like it happened yesterday.

· You’ll have Evil Thoughts. New mothers may have thoughts about smothering their infants. Thoughts of harming or killing others may appear. You may be tortured by images/pictures in your memory. It’s as though the brain finds your most uncomfortable weak spot, then terrorizes you with it.

Milder symptoms of serotonin deficiency are in the link at the top of the page.

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MELATONIN

Supposedly, melatonin levels are increased by around 4000% in the hours after smoking weed. I've sourced this from multiple locations, none of which I have the motivation to cite. Regardless, it's quite well known that cannabis is a great sleep aid. One of the biggest problems I see/experience when coming off of cannabis is insomnia.

For this, I do suggest an actual Melatonin supplement. However, use caution. If you're anything like me, you'll see the different dosages in bottles at the store, and go for the highest one right away. 10 mg? 5 mg? WAY TOO MUCH. This will, more often than not, just produce severe anxiety and/or depression the following day. Try 0.3 mg if you've never taken Melatonin before. If you already use Melatonin, just take a little bit higher of a dose.

L-Tryptophan could be an alternative to this, but I have found that straight up Melatonin works better for insomnia in the case of cannabis withdrawal.

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CB1 STIMULATION

The loss of appetite plagues nearly everyone who quits smoking weed every day. The CB1 stimulation is responsible for our INCREASE in appetite. The anti-serotonergic effects of cannabis are responsible for the antiemetic effects.

There's not much else you can take harmlessly to "increase your appetite". But any natural anti-serotonergic will reduce the nausea.

Rose Essential Oil is naturally anti-serotonergic. Buy a 3% dilution of Bulgarian Rose Oil, and use only 1-5 drops per day on your skin. Rose Oil is also said to release Dopamine. Helpful.

We crave CARBS rather than PROTEIN when we're high. That's the low serotonin and low blood glucose talking. If you wish to feel more stable throughout the day, just eat more protein, and not more than 30g of carbs in one sitting. This will reduce the up-and-down feeling throughout the day when withdrawing, and will also reduce the amount you need to eat. Protein stabilizes blood sugar. Adequate blood sugar is necessary to transport neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine across the blood brain barrier. If it can't cross the blood brain barrier, you will not experience the mood effects from it.

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ADDITIONAL HELPFUL STUFF TO USE

Vitamin C - anti-inflammatory, flushes system out, helps to recover from years of nonstop munchies

B6 - necessary for the conversion of Tyrosine > Dopamine and Tryptophan > Serotonin

Magnesium - necessary for both conversions ^, used for muscle spasms

Calcium - not necessary for this but used for muscle cramps (works with Mg, they are basically balanced opposites)

Sea Salt - Headache? Muscle stiffness? Drink a glass of water with 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in it. Follow it by 16 to 32 oz of pure water. Surprisingly works most of the time. Headaches are usually either 1) dehydration 2) low blood glucose 3) hyponatremia (sodium deficiency) or 4) toxicity in immediate environment (chemical fumes, etc) ****DEHYDRATION IS ACTUALLY QUITE AN ISSUE AFTER QUITTING SMOKING WEED - Due to the cotton mouth, many of us used to hydrate much more often. It's very easy to forget to hydrate for hours on end after quitting. You'd be surprised how much of the discomfort is really JUST dehydration.

B5 - helps with energy metabolism; if all you can stomach is shitty food, it will turn that shitty food into as much energy as physically possible (4 to 10 grams per day)

Helichrysum Italicum Essential Oil - Expensive, but worth the effects. Strongest essential oil I have ever used, with undeniable effects on mood and motivation within the hour. Very potent topical pain killer when diluted to about 3% helichrysum, 97% extra virgin olive oil. No more than 5 full drops (pure helichrysum, undiluted) per day, total. If you're serious about quitting, and are facing a very difficult withdrawal (long time heavy user), I'd highly recommend investing in some of this. Even if it's only a 5-10 mL bottle, as that will last you, easily, at least a couple months.

Oregano Essential Oil - Interacts positively with the dopaminergic system for an antidepressant effect. Tried personally, didn't find it to be very strong. Noticeable, though.

D3 - Or get out in the sun. Assists with natural serotonin production in the body.

Fish Oil - Strong anti-inflammatory. Noticeable effect on the muscles within an hour of dosing. Even with the store-bought brands for like $4.

please note I could not post any off site urls as im a new user, so had to delete links ect from original

all due credit for the original poster, some useful info........ should be noted that l-tyrosine shouldn't be used with an MAOI ,

also I would suggest for those struggling with lack of desire to eat, that you look into powdered oats, and whey protein, maybe even some powdered nutritional greens....... its so easy to drink these even when not hungry and if your going to use exercise to help you out here, and you should, this will help you provide for that.

peace