Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

Cocaine poses many dangers and consequences to the user when not stopped in time. Some of these consequences manifest through withdrawal symptoms. Whether you quit abusing cocaine gradually or immediately, withdrawal symptoms are a must at some point in your recovery journey.

As your body adapts and adjusts to cocaine in its system, it develops a physical dependence on the drug. Once your body has changed, the brain will often require more doses of cocaine to function normally.

When you stop using cocaine, the lack of the substance in your brain triggers unwanted symptoms that make a recovery uncomfortable. While withdrawal from other substances like alcohol may involve extreme physical symptoms, cocaine detox is primarily psychological; withdrawal symptoms mainly manifest through behavioral changes.

Most cocaine users often use the drug in crash and binge patterns, making users who have not decided to quit cocaine experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from cocaine may involve three distinct stages that are:

The Crash: This stage occurs within 24 hours following sustained periods of high-intensity drug use or binging. Someone in a cocaine crash may feel:

• Lack of motivation or energy

• Increased hunger

• Irritability.

• Anxiety

• Fatigue.

• Extreme depression

Withdrawal: This second phase begins within a week after the drug's last use and may last for up to 10 weeks, depending on the user. Symptoms may include:

• Trouble concentrating.

• Low energy

• Changing moods

• Dysphoria (feelings of dissatisfaction with life)

• Anxiety.

• Paranoia.

• Depression

• Cravings

Extinction: The final stage may continue for up to 6 months. It shows a decline in most symptoms which include:

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• Low mood

• Some cravings

The recovery journey from cocaine abuse may be difficult, but knowing the withdrawal symptoms, mentally prepares you to overcome the inevitable. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

• Difficulty concentrating

• Exhaustion

• Slowed thinking

• Slowed activity

• Physical fatigue, especially after activity

• Restlessness

• Anxiety or depression

• Inability to experience any sexual arousal

• The failure to feel pleasure or anhedonia

• Suicidal actions or thoughts

• Vivid, unpleasant nightmares or dreams

• Physical symptoms include tremors, chills, nerve pain, and muscle aches.

• Increased cravings for the drug

• Increased appetite

Since the typical symptoms of cocaine withdrawal aren't as physical as other drug withdrawals, it's vital to watch out for the following withdrawal symptoms:

Depression

The beginning of cocaine withdrawal is usually marked by a "crash," which increases irritability, anxiety, and extreme sadness or depression. Depression manifests in people who mainly use cocaine to deal with stressful life conditions; once the effects of cocaine wear off, the stress returns stronger. According to the Mayo Clinic, medications like Wellbutrin or Prozac are antidepressants that medical professionals prescribe to help with depression.

Cravings

According to the American Addiction Centers, cravings for cocaine may develop as soon as ninety minutes after using the drug. People who have skipped using cocaine for extended periods will likely create a stronger urge to use cocaine. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, behavioral interventions may be effective for cravings; for instance, motivational incentives discourage drug use by providing prizes and awards for achieving various milestones in recovery.

Suicidal Thoughts

When you stop using cocaine abruptly, you likely experience withdrawal symptoms that may impact your mind, like suicidal thoughts or actions. A person addicted to cocaine who stops may start feeling worthless when they don't feel the effects of cocaine. Therefore, it is essential to seek professional attention when you want to quit using cocaine.

Also, note that cocaine is highly addictive; however, there is a massive difference between dependence and addiction. While addiction reflects the inability to stop using the drug even if using the drug leads to both legal and health problems. Dependence is when your body refuses to function normally without using cocaine. The development of dependence leads to physical withdrawal symptoms once you stop using the drug.