Abruptly stopping CBD after four weeks did not cause withdrawal symptoms
Healthy volunteers who suddenly stopped taking high-dose pharmaceutical CBD showed no signs of withdrawal syndrome.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
After four weeks of 1,500 mg daily CBD, volunteers randomized to abrupt discontinuation showed no increase in withdrawal scores. Cannabis Withdrawal Scale scores ranged from 0 to 0.5 out of 190, and Penn Physician Withdrawal Checklist scores were 0 out of 60.
Key Numbers
30 volunteers enrolled. 1,500 mg/day CBD dose. CWS scores: 0.0 to 0.5 out of 190 in discontinuation group. PWC-20 scores: 0.0 out of 60. 97% reported adverse events during treatment (most commonly diarrhea at 63%).
How They Did This
Randomized trial with 30 healthy volunteers taking 750 mg CBD twice daily for 4 weeks, then randomized to continue CBD or switch to placebo for 2 weeks. Withdrawal assessed using validated Cannabis Withdrawal Scale and PWC-20.
Why This Research Matters
Concerns about dependence are a barrier to CBD adoption. This trial provides direct evidence that pharmaceutical CBD does not produce physical dependence or withdrawal after short-term use.
The Bigger Picture
As CBD-based medications become more widely prescribed for epilepsy and other conditions, understanding their dependence profile is essential for both patients and prescribers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 30 participants, all healthy volunteers (not patients with epilepsy or other conditions). Treatment lasted just 4 weeks, so longer-term dependence potential was not assessed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would results differ after longer treatment periods?
- ?Does the lack of withdrawal also hold in patients taking CBD alongside other medications?
- ?Are there population-specific factors that might alter dependence risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Withdrawal scores: 0.0-0.5 out of 190 after abrupt CBD cessation
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized controlled design with validated withdrawal measures, but small sample of only healthy volunteers over a short treatment period.
- Study Age:
- 2020 RCT. Findings apply specifically to pharmaceutical-grade CBD (Epidiolex) and short-term use.
- Original Title:
- Abrupt withdrawal of cannabidiol (CBD): A randomized trial.
- Published In:
- Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 104(Pt A), 106938 (2020)
- Authors:
- Taylor, Lesley, Crockett, Julie(2), Tayo, Bola(2), Checketts, Daniel, Sommerville, Kenneth
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02873
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBD cause withdrawal symptoms?
In this trial, abruptly stopping 1,500 mg/day of pharmaceutical CBD after four weeks produced virtually no withdrawal symptoms, with scores near zero on validated withdrawal scales.
What side effects did participants experience while taking CBD?
During the treatment period, 97% of participants reported adverse events, most commonly diarrhea (63%). Most events were mild or moderate.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02873APA
Taylor, Lesley; Crockett, Julie; Tayo, Bola; Checketts, Daniel; Sommerville, Kenneth. (2020). Abrupt withdrawal of cannabidiol (CBD): A randomized trial.. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 104(Pt A), 106938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106938
MLA
Taylor, Lesley, et al. "Abrupt withdrawal of cannabidiol (CBD): A randomized trial.." Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106938
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Abrupt withdrawal of cannabidiol (CBD): A randomized trial." RTHC-02873. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/taylor-2020-abrupt-withdrawal-of-cannabidiol
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.