July 1, 2022

Help, I'm Too High! What To Do When You Took Too Much

BY Aijalyn Gonzales & Jessica Mckeil

Education

Home > Blog > Help, I'm Too High! What To Do When You Took Too Much

Key Takeaways

Overconsumption of THC can cause unpleasant, but temporary effects, like dizziness, anxiety, and stomach discomfort.
There are no quick fixes to "sober up;" the best approach is to stay calm, hydrated, seek moral support, and wait patiently as the effects diminish over a few hours.
To avoid overconsumption, start with low serving sizes, use precisely dosed products, and consider fast-acting options to prevent taking too much before feeling the effects.

So, you just realized that maybe you shouldn’t have gone back for that second bite of your edible. Suddenly, that blissful state you’re so familiar with is turning decidedly uncomfortable. Now you're asking, "What do I do? How do I get unhigh?"

First things first: Take a deep breath; it’s going to be okay. Getting "too high" is a common and, most importantly, temporary experience. Although there's no quick fix, there are several ways you can help alleviate or, better yet, avoid the unpleasant effects of overconsumption altogether.

We’ll break down what actually helps you sober up from cannabis versus what doesn’t, and what to do to make sure that "too high for comfort" feeling never happens again. Let's cover everything you need to know about coming down from a high, starting with how to tell if you took too much to begin with.

Signs You Probably Took Too Much

At the end of the day, if you’ve had too many puffs of a joint or bites of an edible, you’ll know it, because excess THC (or any psychoactive compound, for that matter) can feel uncomfortable.

Signs you took too much range from the typical dry mouth to a powerful sleepiness, to more unpleasant sensations:
Dizziness, lightheadedness
Feeling cold or sweaty
Increasing heart rate
Anxiousness or unease
Nausea or stomach discomfort

The good news is that these feelings will not last forever, even if it feels like they will.

How Long Does a High Last?

How long does it take to stop being high? The short answer is that the worst of it will be over in a few hours or less, but the specifics will depend on a number of factors.

For example, did you use a vape or eat a gummy? Do you have lots of experience with THC, or was this your very first time?

Many circumstances can impact the strength and length of the high. Still, with nuances aside for the moment, we can make some general assumptions about how long a high usually lasts.

Inhalables

If you're feeling "too high" after smoking a joint or vape, you’re in luck!

With inhalation, peak effects usually hit within 30 minutes and only last an hour or two. Milder effects should dissipate after four to six hours.

Edibles

And what about edibles? Traditional edibles are one of the most common causes of “getting too high” to begin with because their onset of effects is so slow. People, especially newbies, tend to get impatient and go back for seconds, only to find themselves hit with double the effects all at once.

The effects from edibles typically peak one to three hours after consumption, but they will last longer than with inhalation. How long? Some estimates for especially large amounts of ingested cannabis go as high as 12 hours.

This is why we recommend waiting till the end of the day to partake- and to be mindful of how much you consume.

What Not To Do When Trying to Sober Up From Cannabis

If you find yourself in the uncomfortable predicament of being too high, the good news is that the effects will go away. When you’re in the thick of it, time is relative, but try to have some patience because the ride won't last forever.

If you’ve been frantically googling, “How to stop being high,” you’re going to find a lot of untested and, honestly, hairbrained ideas out there. So, before you make the situation worse, here’s what not to do to stop a high:

1. Don’t Overstimulate Yourself

If you want to get unhigh, start by reducing the external stimulation. Loud music, big crowds, flashing lights, or an unfamiliar space can trigger stronger sensations. Instead, find somewhere calm, quiet, and familiar to hang this one out.

2. Don’t Drive or Operate Machinery

While we doubt this was high on your to-do list, it is worth mentioning the dangers (and legalities) of driving or operating heavy machinery while under the influence.

Firstly, driving while high is illegal. And secondly, it’s illegal because it's dangerous. In the wise words of the National Institute of Health, “Acute cannabis intoxication can impair driving-related skills and neurobehavioral skills (e.g., impaired executive function, which increases reaction time, such as stopping at a red light),” long after the initial session.

So, put down the keys and wait until long after you no longer feel high to get behind the wheel.

3. Don’t Let Anxiety Take Over

Obviously, this is easier said than done. But as much as you can, try to stay calm in the face of the intensity. Remember, there have been no reported deaths from cannabis alone. Leaning into the anxious thoughts will only encourage a wilder spiral and a difficult mental space. Tap into all the tools in your toolkit to breathe, get out of your head, and soothe the inner turmoil.

4. Don’t Add Alcohol, Caffeine, or Other Substances

Another important point: do not add more recreational ingredients into the mix. That means no drinking alcohol, caffeine, or anything else you may be thinking about. As just one reason why, a study found that alcohol can increase the amount of THC that enters your bloodstream, boosting its effects.

Your mind and body are already trying to manage the effects of one pretty intense ingredient — no need to stress yourself out with more.

What To Do to Come Down From a High

woman taking a drink of water from a glass

With all the what-not-to-dos out of the way, we can focus on the positives: the steps you can take to get less high.

But you may notice there are no gimmicky hacks here. No magic detoxifying elixir or instant detox is going to help you eliminate the excess THC from your body. Because the truth is that the only real antidote is time.

Take the following suggestions as ways to make that time go by faster and more comfortably.

1. Stay Hydrated

Water is life, and staying hydrated is essential before, during, and after every session. Having a cold beverage will not only ease dry mouth but also support your liver and kidneys in their natural detox process.

Plus, having a big, cold glass of water at the ready can give your overactive mind a sensory experience to focus on instead of spinning around in circles.

2. Get Support from a Loved One

When people feel too high, it's natural to go quiet and turn inward. But this can just make anxious thoughts spiral even deeper. So, instead of pretending everything’s fine, try saying what you feel out loud.

Let your friends or the people around you know. Chances are, they’ve been there, too, and can help bring you back to Earth. In a roundabout way, the research actually supports this idea. Social support is directly linked to lower cortisol (stress) levels and better mood.

What do you do if you are alone? Give your bestie a call and tell them about it. Or grab your dog or cat and cuddle them. Pets will gladly receive the extra attention, and according to a growing body of research supporting the therapeutic, mood-enhancing potential of pet interaction, you may feel some relief in just a few minutes.

3. Take a Shower

Anecdotally, a hot shower has helped many a cannabis enthusiast come down from an overwhelming high. There’s something about the familiar, steamy space, the warm water, and a moment of peace that seems to help reset even the most intense experiences.

Sure, a shower won’t technically “sober you up,” but it can help recalibrate your mindset. It helps give your brain good sensations to focus on rather than the uncomfortable ones triggered by the excess THC.

4. Lean into Familiar Comforts

The name of the game for getting unhigh is essentially to wait it out. Which means finding distractions and familiar comforts to get you through it.

Why not throw on a marathon of your favorite old television series (SpongeBob, anyone?), put on a favorite uplifting playlist, or get cozy and play a game like Animal Crossing? The familiar sounds and scenes will keep you focused and steer your mind away from the more intense spirals.

5. Have Patience

Truthfully, the only proven way to stop being high that works every single time is to ride it out. While you can cuddle your dog or take a shower as a soothing distraction, biologically speaking, you have to wait until the THC has done its work before the high truly ends.

Remember, the most intense effects will last only a few hours at most. Practice patience and compassion for yourself while you get through it.

Learning from Experience! How To Avoid Getting Too High

The golden rule for all things cannabis is to start low and go slow.

This means that if you are trying cannabis for the first time, exploring a new cannabinoid, or diving into a new product, you’ll want to start with the lowest recommended serving size and then increase slowly.

The goal is to keep the experience manageable while you familiarize yourself with the effects from that serving size, cannabinoid blend, or product format. Then, for the next session, you can adjust up or down to dial in the experience.

And a few special notes on edibles, which are more often than not what brought you here to begin with. First, stick with precisely "dosed" edibles where you know how much THC you’re getting, rather than a random homemade brownie with a cannabinoid content that is just a guesstimate.

Second, if you would rather not wait or are new to cannabis, look for edibles with fast-acting nano THC. Instead of waiting for up to two hours for the effects to kick in, they come on within 15 to 30 minutes. Because you don't have to wait so long to feel the effects, you'll be far less tempted to go back for seconds.

Have Patience, Be Gentle With Yourself, and Ride the Wave

Particularly negative cannabis experiences are rare, but they do happen. Even the most experienced people may find the effects of cannabis can be more intense than they anticipated when experimenting with a new product, format, or cannabinoid blend.

When this happens, just know that THC's effects are only temporary and will dissipate over time.

So hang tight, and try the techniques above to mellow the effects out. Until next time, mind your mind.

FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.