Can You Experience CBD Withdrawal Symptoms?

There is no evidence that you’ll experience withdrawal syndrome when you stop using cannabidiol (CBD), even if you use it frequently.

CBD is not considered addictive and may help address symptoms associated with substance use disorders, such as anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, and cravings. However, those using CBD to manage health problems like headache/migraine, spasms, or epilepsy may find some symptoms resurface if they stop using CBD.

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Can You Get Addicted to CBD?

There is currently no evidence that CBD is addictive, and CBD does not bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors and does not have the intoxicating effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, CBD has a physiological effect, so it is considered psychoactive to some degree.

CBD Withdrawal: Is It Real?

CBD withdrawal is unlikely to occur because it doesn’t seem to cause psychological or physical dependence. It is possible that some people may use CBD products like CBD oil compulsively, but stopping use does not seem to produce withdrawal symptoms.

For those who use CBD to manage another health problem, it is possible that some symptoms may reemerge. For example, if you have been using CBD to reduce chronic pain, you may find the pain comes back if you stop using CBD.  

How CBD Can Help with Withdrawal Symptoms of Other Drugs

CBD is not only not addictive but could possibly even help treat addiction and withdrawal from various drugs and medications, including benzodiazepine, alcohol, and opioid withdrawal. CBD does this in many ways:

• Reducing anxiety.
• Dysregulated serotonin neurotransmission is associated with addiction and the pathophysiology of various mood disorders – CBD is a 5HT1A serotonin receptor agonist that can help improve mood and reduce cravings.
• CBD is an allosteric modulator of mu- and delta-opioid receptors, meaning that it can “talk” to some opioid receptors and convince them to turn down the volume of pain signals, which ultimately helps reduce intake and decrease the chances of opioid addiction.
• There are reports of CBD being useful for reducing restless leg syndrome (RLS), reducing or even stopping the overwhelming urge to unnecessarily moving your legs.
• CBD can help treat insomnia, with high doses of 300 mg or more having sedative effects. Cannabinoids like cannabinol (CBN) could also combine with CBD for more sedative effects.
• Thanks to its antioxidative and immunomodulatory properties, CBD could help reduce alcohol-related brain damage and cravings for alcohol. Beta-caryophyllene has also been shown to reduce alcohol and alcohol-related inflammation intake, at least in mice.

The Bottom Line

CBD is not addictive and could help treat drug addiction. However, it is not a “cure” for addiction and substance abuse problems, and other addiction treatment methods may be necessary.

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