Sharon Stone has opened up about the intense struggle she faced after discontinuing medication prescribed following her severe stroke in 2001 and giving up cannabis. She described the experience as similar to heroin withdrawal while pursuing a “drug-free life.”
RadarOnline.com reports that the 68-year-old Basic Instinct actress shared insights into her recovery journey in a recent interview, revealing her reliance on prescription drugs since a life-threatening brain hemorrhage 25 years ago.
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Sharon Stone revealed her agonizing battle after quitting medication.
With a strong desire to regain control over her health, Stone chose to discontinue one of her medications against medical advice and later decided to stop using cannabis.
The actress, a mother to three adopted sons, has previously discussed how the stroke led her to reassess her priorities, pulling her away from Hollywood to concentrate on raising her family before returning to the entertainment industry.
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‘Basic Instinct’ Star Compares Withdrawal To Heroin
The ‘Basic Instinct’ star endured severe drug withdrawal symptoms.
Stone recounted the harrowing experience: “I stopped taking one of my stroke medications last September, despite being told I couldn’t. They insisted: ‘You can’t go off of it. You can never go off of it.’ But I was determined: ‘I’m going off it,’ and it felt like quitting heroin. I was extremely ill for four and a half months. I just wanted my life back. I had already eliminated most of the drugs over the years, but I longed for a drug-free life.”
An insider close to Stone mentioned her growing resolve to lessen her dependency on medication after years of dealing with the aftermath of her stroke.
The source stated: “Sharon reached a point where she wanted to understand who she was without daily medication. The process was intensely challenging, but she felt reclaiming her independence was worth the months of suffering.”
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Stopping Cannabis Sparked Another Severe Illness
Stone suffered a life-threatening brain hemorrhage 25 years ago.
Stone’s decision to stop using cannabis also led to another significant health crisis.
She explained: “After quitting the stroke medication, I decided to stop smoking pot. I believe they add so many substances to it now. When I stopped using it, I got quite sick. It’s not the same as when we were younger. I was ill for about a month and visited my neurologist, who told me, ‘Sharon, I’ve seen people end up in the emergency room from marijuana.'”
Another source mentioned that Stone hopes her story will inspire others to seek medical advice before altering prescribed treatments.
The source expressed: “Sharon is not advising others to discontinue their medication. She merely wants to highlight how physically challenging the process was for her and emphasizes the importance of making such decisions with professional guidance.”
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Near-Fatal Stroke Transformed Career And Family Priorities
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The actress hoped her story encouraged proper medical guidance.
Stone has also reflected on how surviving her stroke reshaped her perspective on life and her career.
Speaking on the Today show in 2025, she stated: “In the ’90s, I basically dominated as an actress.
“I stopped when I suffered a stroke. It was massive, and I nearly died, so I couldn’t work.
“After reevaluating what mattered to me, I wanted to have children and spend my time with them. I only worked enough to support my family. Now that my children have grown up and moved on, I am back to work.”
