When we speak of withdrawal syndrome, we refer to the sensation experienced by a person when drug use is abruptly discontinued. This syndrome manifests with a series of symptoms that differ depending on the frequency and intensity with which the person consumed the substance. The symptoms that appear can be physical, emotional, and psychological in nature. In the case of cocaine, it is a chemical substance that causes alterations in the brain. That is why when drug use is stopped, a physiological response is created that is known as withdrawal syndrome.
Withdrawal symptoms can occur even if the user has not completely stopped using cocaine and still has some of the drug in their bloodstream. These symptoms can be very intense depending on the degree of use the person has engaged in. If the person has not taken much cocaine or has used it infrequently, withdrawal symptoms will likely be less severe. In contrast, someone who has abused the drug considerably will experience much more pronounced symptoms.
Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal Syndrome
The main effect produced by cocaine is a sensation of euphoria. This occurs because the brain releases greater than normal amounts of certain chemicals. However, on the other hand, the effects of the drug on other areas of the body can become very serious and, at times, even fatal. When cocaine use is discontinued or when its effect ends, symptoms begin that affect both the body and the mind. Unlike other drugs such as heroin, the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal are sometimes not visible. But that does not mean the level of severity cannot be considerable. Normally, during the first five days after stopping use, symptoms tend to be worse.
The most common symptoms of cocaine withdrawal syndrome are:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Panic Attacks
These symptoms appear at the beginning of the withdrawal period. They are the consequence of a chemical imbalance in both the brain and the body. During withdrawal syndrome, the user has a strong desire to take more cocaine to recover the aforementioned sensation of euphoria. In addition to feelings of depression and a sense of emptiness, the person may have problems remembering things, affecting their concentration.
State of the Individual Before Reaching Withdrawal Syndrome
As a state prior to the withdrawal period, cocaine produces symptoms in the brain and body that contrast with the subsequent phase of depression. What determines how long the sensation of euphoria lasts is the way in which the substance is consumed. The faster the absorption, the more intense the sensation of “high” will be and, in turn, the shorter the duration of cocaine’s effects. By inhaling the drug, euphoria takes longer to arrive, but can last between 15 and 30 minutes. On the other hand, the effects obtained from smoking cocaine can last between 5 and 10 minutes.
The effects on the user’s body and mind vary from the initial stages to the long-term effects. Initially, the user experiences, for example, intense energy and happiness or hypersensitivity to light and sound. At a physiological level, the effects resulting from cocaine use include:
- Accelerated heart rate
- Pupil dilation
- Constriction of blood vessels
- Increased body temperature
- Increased blood pressure
- Tremors and dizziness
- Muscle spasms
- Paranoia
On the other hand, cocaine abuse can lead to serious medical complications such as heart attacks, strokes, seizures, gastrointestinal problems, and even coma. Deaths caused by the use of this drug are usually the result of cardiac arrest or seizures that lead to respiratory arrest. In some cases, sudden death can occur the first time cocaine is tried or when used consecutively.
How Long Does Withdrawal Syndrome Last?
There is no exact duration for cocaine withdrawal syndrome. In reality, it depends on factors such as the amount consumed and the user’s pattern of use. According to studies conducted in recent decades, three phases can be established in cocaine withdrawal syndrome:
- First phase where the crash or sensation of depression occurs, which can last from a few hours to five days. The characteristics of this first phase are depression, weakness, sleep disorders such as drowsiness or insomnia, irritability, and a strong desire to use during the first day that ends up disappearing between the third and fifth day.
- Second phase, properly of withdrawal. It can last from one to ten weeks and is the stage where there is the greatest risk of relapse. We can distinguish two sub-phases. In the first or early phase, mood and sleep normalize and both anxiety and the desire for cocaine decrease. However, in the second sub-phase, also known as the middle or late phase, there is an increase in anxiety and the sensation of irritability, and an intense desire to use again appears.
- Third phase, known as the extinction phase. It has an indefinite duration and is characterized by the fact that depressive symptoms gradually subside and normal mood is recovered. The user may feel the desire to take cocaine due to the memory of the euphoria they felt after its use, or due to conditioned stimuli that occur around them.
Often there are no visible symptoms of withdrawal such as vomiting or tremors, which can accompany withdrawal from drugs such as heroin. However, factors such as the desire to use or depressive syndrome can be higher than those of withdrawal from other drugs.
Even if a long period of abstinence has elapsed, the risk of relapse is high. That is why it is very important to remain alert and react to any sign that suggests cocaine use may have been restarted.
