Eye Twitching After Quitting Weed: A Nervous System Glitch

Your eyelid has developed a life of its own. The persistent, involuntary twitching (myokymia) is annoying but harmless — and directly linked to nervous system changes during withdrawal.

Why It Happens

Eye twitching during withdrawal results from:

• Neural hyperexcitability: The same GABA/glutamate imbalance that causes tremors affects the small muscles around your eyes.
• Sleep deprivation: Insomnia is one of the most common causes of eye twitching, withdrawal or not.
• Stress and fatigue: Elevated cortisol and physical exhaustion compound neuromuscular instability.
• Magnesium depletion: Stress and poor nutrition during withdrawal can deplete magnesium, a key mineral for muscle relaxation.

Timeline

• Onset: Days 2–5
• Peak: Days 5–10
• Resolution: Days 10–14 (resolves as sleep and stress normalize)

What Helps

• Sleep — Prioritize sleep above everything. Eye twitching often resolves once sleep quality improves.
• Magnesium supplement — Magnesium glycinate (200–400mg) at bedtime.
• Reduce screen time — Eye strain from screens worsens twitching. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Reduce caffeine — Caffeine is a common eye-twitch trigger.
• Warm compress — A warm cloth over closed eyes for 5 minutes relaxes the orbicularis oculi muscle.

Eye twitching is benign and self-limiting. It rarely requires medical attention unless it persists beyond 3 weeks or involves the entire side of the face (which could indicate a different condition).