Questions about smoking weed daily for years and quitting

[statued]

I've smoked weed almost everyday for about 8 years and I quit about 2 weeks ago. I've been miserable. Depressed, irritable, can't concentrate, anxiety, etc. It doesn't feel like it's getting much better.
Is there any proven research that indicates it takes a long time to get back to normal?
Does smoking weed daily have long term effects on the brain's dopamine levels? Like will my brain struggle to produce dopamine on its own?
I wish I would have known a long time ago. I didn't even know marijuana increased dopamine levels. It sure would be nice if I could smoke weed and not have to worry about it screwing up my brain chemistry like this. The thing is, I see potheads smoking all the time and they seem to think nothing of it. I wonder what they think as far as if it will cause them any permanent effects, or if they just don't care.

I took a three month break from smoking weed when I was prescribed vyvanse (ADHD stimulant) and it ended up giving me very bad effects. Is this because my brain was already used to increase dopamine levels from smoking marijuana?

Any answers and/or research links will be very appreciated!

 

[johnson&johnson]

Hey man, I smoked weed everyday for 8 years as well before I started even trying to quit. The reason my quitting would never last was that this dopamine shortage you mention, I felt perpetually depressed when I did quit, or I would just start drinking excessively and found that to be worse than just smoking my brains out.

But the last time, it did get better. your going to need to get a new source of dopamine though and the best place for that is the gym. I kinda forgot about smoking weed but can recognize why I had trouble quitting. This is anecdotal of course but I googled the fuck out of it thinking I had premaritally low dopamine because of weed but I've been back to feeling like myself lately.

 

[LifeIsStrange]

Pregnenolone, 5-HTP, Valerian, L-Tryptophane are substances that help.
By me I think it was about one month, getting back to "normal" .

 

[statued]

Hey man, I smoked weed everyday for 8 years as well before I started even trying to quit. The reason my quitting would never last was that this dopamine shortage you mention, I felt perpetually depressed when I did quit, or I would just start drinking excessively and found that to be worse than just smoking my brains out.

But the last time, it did get better. your going to need to get a new source of dopamine though and the best place for that is the gym. I kinda forgot about smoking weed but can recognize why I had trouble quitting. This is anecdotal of course but I googled the fuck out of it thinking I had premaritally low dopamine because of weed but I've been back to feeling like myself lately.

It's funny you say that, my mom just brought that up today. It's definitely true, I've known that for a while. Today I went jogging for 20 mins on the treadmill and listened to slayer (great when youre pissed off when quitting weed XD) and I felt a little better afterwards. As far as the valerian goes, I've tried that and kava kava and those herbs are not for me. I just don't like the way they feel. I don't know about the other ones you mentioned, but I do take multivitamins. I've noticed picking up cigarettes to substitute weed dosnt work good at all. Nicotine just makes me feel even worse. Alcohol is the same really, it just dosnt work good as a substitute. They only thing that can really relieve the dopamine shortage is stimulants or opiates (which are worse drugs IMO). Basically, marijuana smokers who quit just have to tough it out unfortunately My doctor has recommended anti depressants to help the decrease in dopamine, but I don't trust those freakin things.

 

[Londonscouser]

I quit 4 months ago and struggle from a sort of depression, or maybe it isn't a depression, but it is basically emotional numbness, (can't laugh or cry), i feel like i've lost my personality and my sense of humour.

Anyways, to answer your question, no there isn't any conclusive research, and weed affects different people in different ways...
From the scientific journals i have read, it seems that the permanent effects of chronic cannabis consumption results in permanent alterations in serotonin pathways. And well, serotonin has a relationship with dopamine...

But to be honest, what you are feeling is completely normal,and it can take months and even years to feel 100% normal. I suggest you learn about PAWS from cannabis.

Don't listen to the posts that tell you take stuff like 5-HTP, yes it can make you feel better in the short-term, but long-term usage can result in down-regulation of serotonin receptors...(on the plus side this could temporarily increase dopamine though)

You just need to tank it out dude. The best medication is exercise lol...The anxiety does go away though...i remember my anxiety was like 7/10, now its like 2-3/10 after nearly 4 months.

 

[Burnt Offerings]

I smoked weed for about three years prior to being arrested for possession and put on probation (where I was drug tested & forced to quit weed). Quitting for me was incredibly easy, personally. After a few days I didn't really miss it at all.

 

[casual1]

I quit weed after 10 years of heavy use. It probably took around 12 - 18 months to feel better. I didn't exercise as much as I should have and my diet was poor. Try to focus on other things, it may take some time to reorient your reward pathways towards something more natural. Exercise, socialising, meditation can all help. Good luck.

 

[nygiants1313]

Smoked weed every day for 2 years quit no problem, so the only advice i have for you OP, is stay away from opiates lol. Have never seen anyone depressed from quitting smoking weed but as opiate addict id say if this is very hard for you please please please stay away from other drugs.

I would advise getting into lifting weights and running. Maybe just maybe as you develop muscle change your body or just get healthier, the adrenaline pump and runners high you receive from working out may lift some of your depression.

Itll be tough at first but if you can push through and get a month under your belt, i promise youll feel awesome.

 

[Loonesta]

I am the say way. It's just a psychological dependence. My husband doesn't seem to go through the same things. Been smoking everyday for almost 6 years and when we have to take a break I get insomnia and a little irritable but it's never the end of the world.

 

[Doctor.K]

Your Endocannabinoid system is used to being exogenously stimulated by Marijuana. It stopped (or very little) producing endogenous cannabinoids because of the marijuana. IF possible I would suggest tapering as with any other drug. If find that not tapering can cause some problems that last longer than they should or are expected to ( personal experience from benzos, opiates, marijuana). You could try stimulating endorphins, although not necessarily affecting the Endocannabinoid system it will help you feel better. FOR ME, Whole milk (casomorphins, tryptophan), music, a light set of benchpress and curls, and Kratom helps. There are several more but those help ME the most. Just some info and some suggestions.

 

[poloblue]

Hey man smokin everyday like 9ish years w/o any breaks, took a month off last year n wasn't too bad, I did "taper" tho if you want to call it that, didnt have $ or thc so would toke the resin or reclaim couple times a day till it ran out n seemed to help w the transition, most if not all is mental tho so try not psych urself out too bad u know, u can do it n just be glad it's not heroin or krokodil or some shit lol