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Cannabis withdrawal — “zatla”: the symptoms, the care, the duration
Stopping cannabis — “zatla” — causes a very real withdrawal, which mainly affects mood, sleep and appetite. Here are the signs, the care at the clinic and the indicative durations; the protocol itself is decided after examination.
The signs of withdrawal
- Irritability, anger, anxiety.
- Insomnia and vivid dreams.
- Loss of appetite, low mood.
- In some people, psychotic symptoms revealed or made worse.
One of these signs settling in is enough to justify a call — and the call commits you to nothing. When in doubt, the test “What to do, right now?” points the way in thirty seconds.
The care at the clinic
For cannabis, withdrawal rests on support for sleep and anxiety, motivational interviewing, and a psychiatric assessment if symptoms persist beyond the withdrawal.
It follows the same protocol as every withdrawal:
- Admission assessment: clinical examination, assessment of how severe the dependence is and screening for associated disorders — anxiety, depression, sleep.
- Medically supervised withdrawal, then stabilisation: the withdrawal syndrome is treated, not endured; sleep falls back into place, appetite returns, mood lifts or reveals what it was hiding.
- Work on craving: motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, group sessions, a written plan for the tipping moments.
- After discharge: close follow-up consultations, a family meeting, referral to a peer-support group — the first month outside is followed closely.
The detail, step by step, is on the home page: the protocol, from the first day to the last.
How long?
The worst of the withdrawal lasts 1 to 3 weeks; the craving is worked on afterwards. These durations are indicative: they vary with how long use has gone on, the quantities, age and general health. The protocol is decided after examination.
The cannabis entry also appears among the other substances on the home page.
For the family
You do not need the person’s consent to ask for advice: a first call serves to describe the situation, gauge how urgent it is and prepare what comes next. If he refuses to hear about it, the page “He refuses to come. What can you do?” details what to say, what to avoid, and when the emergency outweighs consent. If life is in danger — loss of consciousness, a seizure, suicidal talk — dial 190 (SAMU) first, then call the clinic.
Two questions people don’t dare ask
Can cannabis be stopped at home?
Often yes, with follow-up. But the decision is made after examination, never in advance and never alone — and a psychiatric assessment is offered if symptoms persist beyond the withdrawal.
Will it stay confidential?
Medical confidentiality covers the entire stay. No information is passed to an employer, an administration or any third party without the patient’s written consent.
Before admission: preparing the stay, what to bring.
Other substances: alcohol · benzodiazepines · opiates · cocaine and stimulants · pregabalin.
The information on this page is general and does not replace a medical consultation. No treatment, no stop and no dose change should ever be decided from this website.