Withdrawal shouldn’t be attempted at home alone – instead, it should be done with a medical professional as part of a medically assisted detox. Discover some commonly asked questions about cocaine withdrawal. This approach makes withdrawal safer, more manageable and less distressing. Find out more about Priory’s addiction support and start your recovery today.
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
People who use large amounts of cocaine, mix substances, or struggle with co-occurring mental health conditions face an even harder withdrawal period. Evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) help individuals identify triggers and develop healthier coping strategies. Contingency Management (CM) has also shown significant success for stimulant addiction, offering rewards for remaining drug-free.
Treatment Services
- Physical cravings often intensify, and it may become more difficult to resist the urge to use again.
- However, the psychological effects can be severe and, in some cases, lead to suicidal thoughts.
- The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal are often mild and not life threatening.
- If a newborn has NAS, their symptoms can last 1 week to 6 months after birth, according to the March of Dimes.
- Call The Recovery Village today to learn more about a continuum of care that can springboard a lifetime of healing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) confirm fentanyl contamination of cocaine is the rule, not the exception. Contact Priory today to arrange your free, confidential addiction assessment and find out how we can help. Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on how much cocaine you’ve been using, how often, and the way you’ve been taking it (snorting, smoking or injecting). Remember, withdrawal is temporary, and healing is always possible. No single treatment works for everyone, but a combination of therapies tends to produce the best outcomes. Support groups, therapy, and engaging in structured activities can help reduce the sense of emotional numbness and begin to rebuild a sense of normalcy.
- While there isn’t an FDA-approved medication to treat cocaine withdrawal, some medications show promising results, including buprenorphine and naltrexone.
- This helps us determine whether a standalone detox or a combination of detox and ongoing support is the most suitable approach for you.
- Knowing what’s coming and lining up real support can make all the difference in getting through this safely.
- In addition, it highlights resources available in Knoxville, giving individuals the tools and guidance they need to move forward with confidence and resilience on their path to sobriety.
- LifeRing is a secular recovery organization that aims to help people share practical experiences and access sobriety support.
- Whatever your goals, it’s the struggle to get there that’s most rewarding.
How Long Does It Take To Detox From Cocaine?
They’re often triggered by stress, boredom, or reminders of past use. Cocaine withdrawal won’t land you in the ICU, but depression can turn dangerous fast. Medical staff watch for warning signs and intervene before things get bad. Having structure, regular meals, scheduled activities, check-ins, keeps your mind from going to dark places while you focus on recovery.
Supporting yourself during withdrawal
Although cocaine withdrawal is rarely life-threatening, medical supervision is still recommended. A structured detox program can monitor symptoms, offer emotional support, and prevent relapse. Cocaine withdrawal is the process the body undergoes as it adjusts to the absence of the drug. Because cocaine significantly affects the brain’s dopamine system—a chemical responsible for pleasure and reward—withdrawal can leave a person feeling emotionally drained and physically unwell. Cocaine withdrawal usually won’t kill you, but it can lead to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and relapse risks if you try to handle it alone.
Mindfulness and yoga manage anxiety while exercise works like a natural antidepressant, replacing the dopamine rush cocaine provided. When you first stop, the brain gets all mixed up without the drug. Sleeping is hard and sometimes not possible.By week two to four, some things get a little better. There’s no FDA-approved medication for cocaine withdrawal, but supportive medications can ease symptoms like anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances. You can expect fatigue, low mood, intense cravings, and anxiety, especially during the first week. Some symptoms may linger for weeks or months, but they improve over time with treatment.
Someone experiencing cocaine withdrawal may also have an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. A doctor can prescribe medications to help manage these symptoms. The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal are often mild and not life threatening.
Addiction Treatment
Although symptoms of cocaine withdrawal may not be as intense as what one feels when quitting other drugs and alcohol, they can be severe, even leading to fatal conditions if not properly treated. Whether you have only recently begun using this stimulant, or you’ve used cocaine over many years, recovery is possible. Sleep issues are also common, ranging from difficulty falling asleep to vivid, unsettling dreams that disrupt rest and leave a person feeling drained the next day.
And then there’s the crushing cravings that hit like a punch to the gut, begging you to use again just to feel normal. Underneath those obvious signs, more serious symptoms, like crippling depression or sudden anxiety attacks, can blindside you. People often feel emotionally flat or drained, sometimes describing themselves as “numb.” Sleep during this phase may be excessive, as the body tries to recover from chronic overstimulation. Different factors affect the timeline and severity of withdrawal symptoms.
While cocaine withdrawal itself rarely leads to medical emergencies, it can be dangerous in other ways. During medical detox, a person will experience some or many of the withdrawal symptoms of cocaine. Cocaine detox is not long but can be uncomfortable for some people.
Protracted Withdrawal Phase (Weeks to Months)
Many people feel anxious, low, or emotionally worn out during this phase of withdrawal. Sleep is often disturbed, featuring vivid and sometimes frightening cocaine withdrawal and recovery dreams. Additionally, severe depression and suicidal thoughts are real risks during withdrawal. At Sequoia Recovery Centers, we offer around-the-clock support and medical care to ensure clients stay safe and as comfortable as possible during detox.
When you stop using cocaine, your brain struggles to regain balance, resulting in a “crash” that can bring intense fatigue, low mood, and cravings. However, some withdrawal symptoms like problems with impulse control may persist for longer periods. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms occur when a person becomes dependent on cocaine to function normally. If you are physically dependent on cocaine and stop taking the drug, you will have withdrawal symptoms.