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Headaches, night sweats and an upset stomach after quitting weed

· 3 min read · Not medical advice

Most of cannabis withdrawal happens in your head: irritability, anxiety, bad sleep. But a fair number of people also get physical symptoms, mainly headaches, sweating at night, shakiness and an upset stomach. They’re unpleasant, they’re usually short, and there’s a lot you can do about them.

How common they are

Reviews of cannabis withdrawal list chills, headaches, physical tension, sweating and stomach pain as the less common physical symptoms. “Less common” still means a lot of people. In a nationally representative US survey of frequent cannabis users, among those who met the criteria for withdrawal:

  • about 48% had headaches;
  • about 25% had shakiness or tremors;
  • about 22% had sweating;
  • about 12% had stomach pain;
  • about 7% had chills.

So if your head hurts on day 3, you’re in the larger group, not a strange exception.

When they start and how long they last

They follow the same timeline as the rest of withdrawal: they usually start 24 to 48 hours after your last use, are strongest somewhere between days 2 and 6, and fade over the first one to two weeks. Heavy, long-term users can have symptoms for three weeks or longer.

Night sweats often come together with the vivid dreams many people get in the first weeks. Waking up damp after an intense dream is common. Our guide on weird dreams after quitting explains why those happen.

What helps with headaches

  • Drink water through the day and don’t skip meals. Appetite often drops in the first week, and a headache plus an empty stomach feels worse.
  • Don’t quit caffeine the same week. Caffeine withdrawal causes headaches of its own. Keep your usual coffee in the morning and cut down later if you want to.
  • Sleep on a schedule. Same bedtime and wake-up time, even if the nights are restless.
  • Get outside for a bit. A walk in daylight helps with tension headaches and with sleep that night.
  • Over-the-counter pain relief is fine for most adults if you follow the label. Ask a pharmacist if you take other medication or have stomach, liver or kidney problems.

What helps with night sweats

  • Keep the bedroom cool and use lighter bedding than usual for a couple of weeks.
  • Put a spare T-shirt and a towel next to the bed, so changing takes a minute and not a full wake-up.
  • A lukewarm shower before bed helps some people fall asleep.
  • Go easy on alcohol in the evening: it makes sleep lighter and can make you sweat more at night.

What helps with an upset stomach

  • Eat small meals every few hours instead of three big ones.
  • Plain food is easier in the first days: toast, rice, bananas, soup, yogurt.
  • Sip water or tea through the day instead of drinking a lot at once.

Our guide on no appetite after quitting has more on eating in the first week.

When it’s not withdrawal

Get medical help right away for a sudden, severe headache (the worst of your life), a headache with fever, a stiff neck, confusion or vision changes, chest pain, or vomiting that won’t stop. See a doctor if sweats come with fever or weight loss, or if physical symptoms are still there after about three weeks. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline (free, 24/7) at 1-800-662-4357 can help you find support for stopping.

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