If you’ve ever smoked cannabis (popularly known as weed) before, you’re most likely familiar with its common side effects. For instance, the munchies and cotton mouth always accompany the high feeling that comes with smoking weed. Sometimes, you might even crave pizza or your comfort food after a session with cannabis.
But what if you start sharing after using cannabis? What if you start shivering after taking a hit? Is that still normal or should you be concerned?
You could be experiencing the “weed shakes.” THC-rich cannabis can cause a user to experience paranoia. High doses of such cannabis can also produce a shaky or jittery feeling. So, when you experience shakes after using weed, should you be concerned?
What are Weed Shakes?
Weed shakes happen when you experience involuntary muscle tremors and spasms after consuming a large amount of cannabis. Muscle shakes that happen after alcohol withdrawal or other serious health concerns are worrying, but shakes from weed consumption are less dangerous. The tremors occur because your nervous system is overwhelmed with the amount of THC introduced to your body.
While there is no official research on weed shakes, anecdotal information assures that they are typically harmless and relatively safe. Similar to other adverse side effects that come with smoking too much weed, such as increased heart rate and nausea, the shakes also subside quickly.
What Causes Weed Shakes?
There are many factors that contribute to weed-related shaking. These include:
Anxiety. According to numerous studies, consuming too much THC-rich cannabis can trigger paranoia and anxiety. This is because cannabis can overstimulate your amygdala, which leads to increased levels of anxiety and fear. Some people are more susceptible to this side-effect than others. The actual cause of your shakes could be nervousness. If this happens, try to stay calm to subdue the sakes.
Cold Environment. Cannabis can lower your body temperature. This effect, also known as THC-induced hypothermia, might make you feel cold. If you’re in a cold environment already, you’ll most likely shiver. These chills you experience represents a slight drop in your body temperature. A hot shower can remedy the weed shakes.
Over-Stimulation. Stimulants like caffeine or nicotine excite the nervous system. This leads to a boost of dopamine in your bloodstream. If you consume too many stimulants, you’ll most likely experience weed shakes. So, save that rolled blunt for later.
How Long Do Weed Shakes Last?
Fortunately, weed-related tremors don’t last long. In most cases, the shakes subside after 20 minutes. However, the duration of the shaking depends on the amount of cannabis consumed, as well as how you took it. If you consumed an excessive amount of edible cannabis, you might experience a longer episode of weed shakes.
If you experience more alarming symptoms, see your doctor to learn more about cannabis and your body. They can help you make adjustments to your dose to prevent being overwhelmed with THC.
What are the Remedies for Weed Shakes?
If you are experiencing a round of weed shakes, here are some things you can do:
- Avoid stimulants. Combining THC with other stimulants might cause you to shake excessively. To avoid these tremors, avoid combining stimulants.
- Adjust your environment. Where you smoke your weed is a crucial part of your experience. If your surroundings are contributing to your weed-induced paranoia and anxiety, move places. Move to a different room, turn down the lights and put on some calming music.
- Get up and move. Distract yourself by moving around, standing up or doing a task. If your weed shakes are overwhelming you, a change of pace can keep them at bay. Moving around refocuses your energy and stretches your tensed muscles.
- Switch CBD Strains. In most cases, the amount of THC consumed contributes to episodes of weed shakes. If this is applicable to you, switch to another variety with more or less CBD.
- Take deep breaths. If you’re feeling anxious and shaky, take deep and slow breaths to calm your body down. Taking a deep breath also triggers your body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps it relax by entering rest mode.
The Bottom Line
If you’re new to weed shakes, the entire experience can be scary. However, these are often harmless and can be prevented with preventive measures and remedies. To prevent experiencing body shakes in the future, learn more about your body’s response to THC and get access to the medicine you might need.
