What Are the Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal?

Cocaine is an addictive stimulant derived from the coca plants in South America. Often abused in white powder form, cocaine has many cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Many of these symptoms of cocaine withdrawal begin within a few hours of your last dose and last for months after. If you are at risk for cocaine detox symptoms, it is best to consider a professional treatment center where you can undergo your original detox with medical supervision and receive ongoing therapy to help you cope with cravings. 

What to Expect with Cocaine Detox Symptoms

Each drug has a primary form of withdrawal, some of which are heavily physical and others of which are heavily psychological. Cocaine is more psychological than physical, which can make the symptoms seem frightening or insurmountable. However, you can get help from professional detox centers that make the process more manageable. 

Your cocaine detox symptoms will vary based on the following:

• How much you normally take
• How long you have taken cocaine
• Any other drugs you use besides cocaine
• Any mental health disorders you also have

Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal

The basic cocaine withdrawal symptoms, however, include the following:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Slowed thinking
• Slower physical abilities
• Exhaustion
• Restlessness
• An inability to become sexually aroused
• An inability to feel pleasure
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts
• Vivid nightmares
• Increased cravings
• Increased appetite
• Chills
• Tremors
• Muscle aches
• Nerve pain

What you experience and when will change throughout the detox timeline. 

One to Three Hours After the Last Dose

Cocaine withdrawal begins within a few hours of your last dose. You will experience irritability, anxiousness, an increased appetite, and fatigue.  

Within a few hours of cocaine detox symptoms beginning, you will experience more severe cravings. 

One Week After Last Dose

During the first seven to ten days, you will experience intense symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. This is when you need professional supervision the most. 

During this phase, you will experience mood swings, sleeping problems, nightmares, and depression. Some of the earlier cocaine withdrawal symptoms you experienced could emerge too. 

Two to Four Weeks After the Last Dose

After the first two weeks, you will still struggle. At this point, you will be released from the detox part of your recovery and begin with ongoing therapy at a drug rehab center. 

However, you will still find it difficult to concentrate, struggle with irritability, and perhaps most risky of all, deal with what feels like uncontrollable cravings. Depression is also likely to continue at this stage. 

With help from ongoing therapy, though, and potential medication management, you can learn to cope with all of that. 

Five to Ten Weeks After the Last Dose

As your mind and body deal, you will still experience waves of depression, anxiety, or cravings. Cocaine is particularly insidious because the cravings last for months after detox. How long this process lasts and how recurrent things like anxiety or cravings are will vary from person to person. Your history of drug abuse and physical and mental health will influence your experience with withdrawal. 

Professional detox services can take all of that into consideration and provide a more realistic timeline of expectations and withdrawal symptoms. When you start a drug rehab program, you can lean on your therapy sessions and other services throughout this phase. 

Getting Help with Cocaine Detox Symptoms

If you or someone close to you is worried about the risk of symptoms of cocaine withdrawal, it is important to get professional help. Centric Group can help you connect with treatment facilities in your area specializing in detox services. 

People at risk for cocaine withdrawal benefit from supervised medical detox at a residential treatment center. With professional detox, your cocaine withdrawal symptoms are professionally managed throughout the withdrawal timeline. 

• When you check in to your drug rehab facility, staff members will explain what symptoms you can expect based on your personal drug history, mental and physical health. 
• You will be medically supervised the entire time you are detoxing, with staff monitoring your vitals and providing over-the-counter medications to ease your discomfort. 
• Medical staff members remain on hand to provide aid in the event of complications. 

There are many risks associated with the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal, including the risk of dehydration, malnourishment, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches. All of these can be alleviated or reduced with professional detox services. 

Reach out to Centric Group today to find a local detox facility near you.