Cocaine Withdrawal and Detox

Cocaine Info

• Cocaine Addiction and Abuse
• Cocaine Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Cocaine Treatment and Rehab
• Cocaine Withdrawal and Detox

Cocaine Withdrawal: What You Should Know

It can be difficult to imagine that cocaine can produce anything other than the intense rush and positive feelings you enjoy when using the drug. But it won’t take long to realise that those pleasurable feelings are followed by periods of extreme discomfort, which push you to take more and more cocaine to achieve the same ‘high’ again. This can easily become a cycle, sending you deeper and deeper into the spiral of addiction. If you find that you experience withdrawal symptoms that are more prolonged each time you use the drug, it’s likely you are addicted. A particular problem with cocaine is that its pleasurable effects last only a short time, and this is likely to accelerate the process of substance dependence.

When you are ready to quit cocaine and commence treatment of your addiction, you will need to go through a detoxification phase. This is where you clear all traces of cocaine and its breakdown products from your system. Abstinence will cause withdrawal: undesirable and highly uncomfortable symptoms, but these should ease if you can make it through the detox phase without relapse.

Why Does Someone Go Through Withdrawal After Quitting Cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that affects the neurochemistry of your brain, affecting energy levels, mood and cognition. In particular, it affects your brain’s natural response to dopamine, and this is what makes the drug so addictive.

When you start taking cocaine regularly, your brain habituates or gets used to the drug, soon develops a tolerance for it and even begins to depend on it to function. When you try to quit cocaine, your brain is forced to go into a readjustment phase, where it must relearn how to function without the drug, and how to regulate properly dopamine levels. This is what results in withdrawal symptoms.

Duration of the Withdrawal Period

Your environment is also a factor, because if it is a stressful one (which was perhaps what drove you to substance abuse in the first place), it may cause cravings which will complicate the psychological withdrawal process. If you use very pure cocaine, your withdrawal symptoms will likely last longer. The same applies if you consume large amounts of the drug or if you have been taking it for years.
If you are dealing with any other mental health disorders alongside cocaine addiction, such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder, your withdrawal process may be more complicated.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

During the detoxification stage of your treatment, the withdrawal symptoms you experience may be both physical and psychological. Psychological symptoms you may experience include fatigue, depression, cocaine cravings, vivid or unpleasant dreams, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

The physical symptoms you may experience include restlessness, increased appetite, exhaustion, excessive sweating, nerve pain, joint and muscle aches, chills and tremors. Many of these symptoms can be alleviated with medication and the right care. When you undergo detox at a proper treatment facility, you’ll have access to experts who provide medical oversight and can prescribe medications as appropriate. You can expect symptoms to peak around 48 to 72 hours after withdrawal begins, before beginning to subside. You should overcome them within seven to ten days, although cravings are likely to last longer.

What is the Cause of the Withdrawal Symptoms?

If you have been using cocaine for a prolonged period, you will develop a tolerance and then a dependence. Over time, you will need to take higher doses of cocaine to reach the same level of euphoria. With increasing dependency comes the risk of withdrawal symptoms if you try to reduce your usage.

As a triple reuptake inhibitor (TRI), cocaine inhibits the reuptake by neurons of three neurotransmitters that perform crucial functions in the brain: dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Chronic cocaine use changes the way your neurons regulate and respond to these neurotransmitters, and if you abruptly reduce or stop taking cocaine this regulation can be thrown into sudden dysfunction. This then results in psychological and physiological withdrawal symptoms.

The withdrawal symptoms you experience (and their severity) will depend on a number of factors, including the length of time you have been taking cocaine, the purity and dose of the substance you have been using, and the presence of any other disorders you may be dealing with, such as major depressive disorder. With help from trusted experts, however, you can come through withdrawal and detox.

How Long It Takes Before Withdrawal Starts

Because it is a fast-acting drug that quickly wears off, you can expect to start experiencing withdrawal symptoms within a few hours after you stop using cocaine. Most of the acute withdrawal symptoms you experience (such as fatigue, increased appetite or agitation) will typically disappear a week or two after the last dose. However, a few symptoms may linger – some potentially lasting years.

Symptoms to expect four to seven days after the final dose:

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms after a week :

Beyond the first month or so, you may have to deal with post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) if you have used cocaine for an extended period of time. You may begin to experience this about three to six months after you stop taking cocaine.

Some of these symptoms include:

While the length of time you experience the post-acute withdrawal symptoms (and their severity) will depend on how long you have been using cocaine, you can expect them to last between six months and two years. Whatever the case, be assured that you can find the support you need. Having the appropriate emotional, psychological and medical support is a massive help to get you through the difficult withdrawal period.

Cocaine Cravings Timeline

Typically, cravings will peak in severity after two months of staying away from cocaine. After six months, they begin to dissipate. It is important to find the strength to get through the period of intense cravings, as it poses an even greater threat to sustained abstinence than early withdrawal symptoms. The timeline below lists what to expect from cocaine cravings.

Cocaine cravings in the first two months: May progressively worsen.

Cocaine cravings at two to three months: Continue to worsen to a peak in intensity.

Cocaine cravings after about six months: Start to reduce after continuous abstinence.

Fighting severe cocaine cravings for six months or more is not easy, but if you get the support you need you will find that you are strong enough to handle it. Cocaine addiction treatment experts can teach you effective strategies to help you manage and cope with your cravings.

Cold Turkey Withdrawal from Cocaine

Cocaine Withdrawal Remedies

If you suddenly stop taking cocaine, your dopamine levels will plummet increasing the risk of intense cravings, fatigue and depression. You may suffer some combination of extreme fatigue, chronic insomnia, excessive sleepiness or other sleep disorder. Cocaine withdrawal remedies aim to help regulate levels of dopamine and improve sleep. Natural and alternative remedies said to help include Passion Flower, Huang Qin powder or Scutellaria powder, which you can add to a cup of hot cocoa. Huo Po powder or Magnolia bark powder can be taken together simultaneously in the same way. Rhodiola is said to be an adaptogenic herb, meaning it is claimed to help the body cope with stress. It is also claimed to boost serotonin, dopamine and energy levels.

Another remedy claimed to boost dopamine levels is L-Tyrosine, a dopamine precursor. However, you must avoid tyrosine altogether if you have a history of melanoma and be sure to monitor your blood pressure if you are hypertensive. Always consult a doctor before taking supplements, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.

Taurine is a remedy said to combat high levels of glutamate, believed by some to be a factor in addiction. Taurine is claimed to stimulate the formation of connections between nerve cells in the hippocampus, part of the brain concerned with learning, so it might help you to integrate knowledge you gain during drug counselling.

L-Glutamine is claimed to be a helpful supplement that reduces anxiety but be aware that it carries risks and that its effect varies between users. There are claims that it can increase risk of relapse, and it is essential to speak to your doctor before using it if you’ve had cirrhosis of the liver. Glycine, which can be added to your drinks as a sweetener, is claimed to help regulate neurotransmitters in the brain, but should not be taken with coffee. Tryptophan is claimed to boost serotonin levels (with supposed antidepressant and sleep-improving effects), but is dangerous if you are taking serotonin-boosting antidepressant drugs, such as SNRIs or SSRIs.

B vitamins are said to be important co-factors for dopamine production, and accordingly B50-complex supplements are claimed to be beneficial. They are claimed to be helpful for coping with stress and supporting energy levels, as is Vitamin C.

Are There Any Home Remedies for Getting Clean Safely?

There are some home remedies that are claimed to help remove trace elements of cocaine from your system. One of those is nature’s best gift – water. Drinking at least two quarts of water each day will help to clear cocaine from your system.

An active lifestyle is always a good choice and exercising is a great way to accelerate clearance of cocaine traces from your system. It is claimed that sweating profusely is helpful, so you could combine exercise and saunas. Warm and relaxing bathes will soothe your nerves and are claimed to help eliminate body toxins. Beneficial foods include green apples for pectin, bananas for potassium, artichokes for cynarine, red meat to boost creatine levels and antioxidant-rich food. Diuretics such as cranberry juice, tea and coffee may help flush drugs out of your system.

Other natural remedies to try include dandelion supplements and the herb ‘Uva Ursi’, both claimed to be good for cleaning the kidneys. Milk thistle is claimed to help cleanse the liver. Massage is claimed to help the lymphatic system with beneficial effects.

Cocaine Detox Treatment

You are bound to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms after giving up cocaine, and they can be severe, depending on how long you have been using cocaine and how much.

While cocaine detoxification is not typically associated with medical complications, it is possible for seizures to occur during withdrawal. Also, there is the possibility of experiencing cardiac complications. That is why it is always best to detox in a controlled environment, where you’ll get all the medical expertise you need to help get you through detoxification safely and successfully.

The most effective cocaine addiction treatment is detoxification, followed immediately by rehab therapy. Medical professionals advise against attempting rapid detox from cocaine without supervision. At the right rehab facility, you’ll go through a careful detox process, and can then access rehab therapies. Choose a rehab where you’ll have access to competent professionals and excellent facilities.

Psychological Withdrawal and Detox

It’s also possible to have violent, paranoid or aggressive tendencies at the onset of withdrawal. Regardless of how bad the symptoms get, always remember: you are strong enough to get through them. A detox centre can provide the safe and supportive environment that you’ll need.

Cocaine Detox Symptoms

Cocaine detox symptoms manifest when you abstain after a period of bingeing or regular use. Typically, withdrawal symptoms can last between one and three weeks, during which you may experience long periods of sleepiness and alternate between low and high anxiety and more or less intense drug cravings. The symptoms you experience may include slowing of activity, unpleasant dreams, increased appetite, generalised malaise, fatigue, depressed mood and agitation.

If you’ve been using cocaine daily for a long time, you’re likely to continue to crave the drug and feel depressed many months after you stop using it. This is regulated to the way that cocaine addiction disorders the way your brain regulates neurotransmitters. Your healthcare adviser or doctor might prescribe antidepressants for short-term use to help ease symptoms.

The most important factor for breaking free of cocaine cravings is time. With the right support system in place, you can find the time to get back on your feet.

How Long Does Detox Last?

After bingeing on cocaine, the subsequent crash may last anywhere from nine hours to four days. Following a period of physical dependence, acute cocaine detox may last around a week. However, post-acute withdrawal symptoms (often shortened to PAWS) may last anywhere from a few months to an entire year after your last dose. Cravings, depression and problems sleeping are some of the PAWS symptoms you may experience.

After a crash, intense cravings may start within about three to four days, before subsiding. Once you can get past this period, you are more likely to stay abstinent.

What Are the Effects of Cocaine Withdrawal?

Even if you aren’t a frequent user of cocaine – in fact, even if you have used the drug only once — it is possible to experience withdrawal effects. Symptoms will probably be milder than if you have been using the drug for a prolonged period, but they can be very uncomfortable.

Some of the effects of cocaine withdrawal include sluggishness, sleepiness, irritability, anhedonia (inability to find pleasure in things), insomnia, depression, fatigue, cravings, anxiety, paranoia and agitation. Even if your body is not physically dependent on the drug, these symptoms can still manifest.

While there are no proven medications currently available to address the effect of cocaine withdrawal, there is ongoing research into new treatments and possible points of pharmacological intervention. Behavioural therapies have been found to be effective, including the matrix model, contingency management, community reinforcement approach, cognitive behavioural therapy and twelve-step facilitation therapy.

What Are the Different Types of Detox?

The major options you’ll have to choose from for detoxification are inpatient and outpatient detox. To discover which type of detox will be best suited to you, go for an initial assessment that will help an expert gain insight into your medical history, cocaine use and other important considerations.

Inpatient detox is also called residential detox and it is highly recommended because it provides 24-hour medical care and supervision, reducing the chances of relapse or anything going wrong should complications arise.

The majority of available detox options are inpatient; outpatient detox is less frequently recommended, although it can be more suitable in certain situations – for instance, if your addiction is not too severe. Instead of living in the detox facility for a few months, you will only have to commute to the treatment centre for regular check-ins.

Outpatient detox can also be an option if you are not able to pay for inpatient detox or if you cannot take time off from home or work.

What Is the General Timeline for Cocaine Withdrawal?

Often, cocaine withdrawal will follow the same general timeline, but there are a number of factors that can affect the severity and length of detoxification. Usually, the biggest factor will be the length of time the substance was used and the severity of substance abuse, as well as tolerance level. Other factors such as genetics, physical characteristics and overall physical health may also come into play.

An initial crash can occur as soon as 90 minutes after the last dose, as cocaine has a short active period. From this point you are likely to experience depression, discomfort or fatigue. The next three hours to seven days may be even more unpleasant, as acute physical symptoms like tremors, restlessness and pain begin to peak. It is likely your cravings will also peak at this stage, and you may suffer nightmares.

After seven days your symptoms should diminish, and by the 10-day mark they should be mostly gone. While the physical symptoms should be gone completely, the anhedonia (inability to find pleasure in things), depression, and strange dreams may linger on.

Beyond day 10, you may continue to experience anhedonia and depression, many weeks after your last dose, although this happens only in rare cases.

First Stage of Drug Detox

Types of Drug Detox

There are different types of drug detoxification, each with its own unique characteristics. The simplest type is the natural or ‘cold turkey’ detox, where a person simply stops taking cocaine and ‘waits out’ the symptoms. Natural detox can easily result in a relapse if you are not in a controlled environment where all access to cocaine is blocked. You will need to be very disciplined to be able to achieve cold turkey detox, and it could be dangerous.

Medical detox done under the supervision of medical professionals, who may prescribe medication to manage some of your symptoms. Sometimes, the term ‘medicated detox’ is used specifically to describe detoxification assisted by prescribed, non-addictive medication.

Drug detox may also be classified into inpatient and outpatient detox. Usually, medicated and natural detoxes will be residential or inpatient. The residential or inpatient detox route means you will have to reside in the treatment facility for the duration of your withdrawal symptoms.
Outpatient detox does not involve staying in the treatment facility. Instead, you can live at home or in a sober living home, checking in with your doctor regularly for your medication and to ensure that you are on the correct dosage.

Another type of detox is social or non-medical detox, which involves you completely quitting cocaine use while under professional care. You will not get medication to manage complications and symptoms, but the professionals you work with will provide psychological and emotional support throughout the withdrawal process.

Rapid detox is another detox type, but it is considered dangerous and controversial. In this case, you’ll be put in a medically induced coma with a sedative or anaesthesia and then the detox process will be sped up while you are unconscious. While the withdrawal time will be reduced to a few hours, this method is a health risk as because of the anaesthesia.

Another problem with rapid detox is that it does not help with the mental addiction, even though it reduces your body’s physical cravings. Also, studies have shown that rapid detox can still be painful, depending on how speedy it is.

Methods of Drug Detox

Different methods of detoxification will work best in different situations. One common method is natural detox, where you’ll detox naturally without any medical procedures or prescribed drugs.

The advantage of natural detox is that it avoids medications that may have side effects. It may involve long-term lifestyle change and is something that can be implemented after you’ve gone through a medical detox.

The best choice is often a supervised medical detox. Not only will the doctors monitor your vitals and the detox process, they may also prescribe medication to help along the way, where necessary.

Another method of drug detox is tapering or weaning. In this case, you’ll gradually reduce the dosage and/or frequency at which you take cocaine, over a period of time. However, tapering doesn’t work for everyone and it has not been proven to limit the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

At-Home Drug Detox

Detoxing at home can be dangerous, depending on how dependent you are on cocaine. Going ‘cold turkey’ can lead to complications you might not understand or be able to monitor. It is possible to detox at home successfully, but it’s always a good idea to do so under supervision where possible and speak to your physician first.

Drug Detox Kits

Drug detox kits may be marketed as total body detox packages or cleanses and are normally sold in liquid form, pill form or both. Some claim that the kit will rid your system of the drug in seven days. Some drug detox kits work by loading your urine with many substances, while others work by increasing excretion. These claims are suspect and drug detox kits are not recommended.

Drug Detox Kits Are Dangerous

Your body’s natural process of detoxification takes time and there is little that can successfully accelerate it. It’s better to avoid drug detox kits, because they don’t help to manage withdrawal symptoms and have been associated with side effects of their own, such as psychosis.

Drug Detox Kits Aren’t a Complete Treatment Program

Drug kits can actually take you right back to square one, because they are not part of a complete treatment program like medical detox. In a proper addiction treatment facility, you’ll receive behavioural therapy and psychiatry to help successful recovery.

Drug Detox: First Step to Recovery

The first step to getting clean is to get the cocaine out of your system and the aim of detoxification is to do just that. Once your body is free of cocaine and related substances, you can start on therapy to keep you from relapsing.

Finding the Right Drug Detox

Look for help to find the right detox program, whether inpatient or outpatient. Some inpatient detox facilities come replete with the full package, deploying a treatment program that also addresses the psychological aspects of cocaine addiction. Others are standalone programs from where you will have to transfer later. Whatever your needs, you should be able to find the perfect treatment solution for you.

Cocaine detox: what to expect

Anywhere from a few hours to one day after the last dose, you may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms may last between four to seven days, but after that you should start to feel better.

How to detox from Cocaine at home

You can detox naturally at home by abstaining from cocaine. You may use medication for your symptoms if prescribed by a doctor. Therapeutic activities such as acupuncture and massages may help, as well as drinking lots of water, exercising and eating healthily.

Medications Used during Cocaine Withdrawal

Medications you might be prescribed during recovery from cocaine addiction include anticonvulsant drugs, propranolol, baclofen, tiagabine, topiramate, disulfiram and modafinil.

Why Detoxing at Home Can Be Harmful

It’s easier to relapse when detoxing at home, because you are not in a controlled environment and you won’t have the extra medical assistance to help with any cravings. There is also the danger of suffering complications with no medical professional on hand to assist.

Benefits of a Drug Rehab Program

Depending on how long and how heavily you have been using cocaine, you might need to be medically supervised to get through the detoxification phase. If you attempt this on your own, you are less likely to stay clean. It’s always a good idea to seek the help of a drug rehabilitation program or detox, where you’ll receive medical assistance and counselling. You’ll be monitored closely, reducing the risk of relapse or medical complications.

Treating Cocaine withdrawal symptoms

At a treatment centre you may be given medication to treat your withdrawal symptoms. Some alternative and complementary remedies claim to be able to assist with cocaine withdrawal.

Vitamin B5 (aka pantothenic acid), selenium and zinc are claimed to ease withdrawal symptoms, as is NAC cysteine.

Note that NAC is very acidic and can cause dental enamel erosion. Rinse your mouth with water and enamel protecting toothpaste immediately after consuming NAC liquid.

Which treatments work for cocaine addiction?

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment work for cocaine addiction. Also, support groups and twelve-step programmes have been proven to be effective.

Other Help for Cocaine Addiction

A good place to seek help for addiction is Cocaine Anonymous, where you can get great support.

Where Will I Have My Treatment?

You can get treatment in an inpatient facility, hospital, or other treatment centre where you’ll receive medication or joint therapy sessions.

Does Treatment for Cocaine Addiction Work?

Yes. It may take a while before your cravings finally subside, but you can beat your cocaine addiction with the appropriate treatment.

From Withdrawal to Recovery

Cocaine withdrawal is a painful but necessary part of your journey to recovery. Once you’ve got through this stage, you’ll find the strength to continue the rest of the way.

How to Cope with Relapse Risks Over the Holidays

The key to coping with relapse risks is knowing what they are in the first place. For example, if your stressor – the trigger that increases relapse risk – is family dramas of any kind, it is best to avoid these by staying away from arguments.

Also, you’ll need to plan ahead to find excuses not to join your friends in taking drugs or drinking alcohol (if indeed they normally do this during holidays). It’s also important to realise that you really don’t have to attend any parties that put you at risk. It’s better to miss a party than end up relapsing.