Cocaine, in addition to being one of the most addictive drugs, also generates a large number of psychological effects on the person who consumes it. Therefore, cocaine withdrawal typically creates most of its consequences on the brain. Today, we explain how long cocaine withdrawal lasts and how it develops in those who experience it.
What is Cocaine and How Does It Work?
Cocaine is a substance classified as a stimulant drug. The consequences of its use primarily affect the individual’s mind. Thus, when consumed, it increases brain activity and causes strong and frequent emotional changes.
The person’s neural network transmits impulses and received information much more quickly. Consequently, they feel more active and capable of reacting to their environment more rapidly. However, cocaine is a highly addictive drug, making it very likely that an addiction will develop. And once the person decides to stop using cocaine, they begin to experience the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal.
What is Cocaine Withdrawal Syndrome?
Cocaine withdrawal syndrome appears when a person who uses the drug becomes addicted and decides to quit cocaine cold turkey. Unlike other narcotics, cocaine syndrome is much more psychological. Thus, the effects it generates on the body are more psychological than physiological.
Experiencing cocaine withdrawal syndrome means giving up a substance to which the body has become dependent. Drug use causes changes in the body, altering its normal functioning. Without it, the body cannot work correctly or perform its usual tasks properly.
The problem with cocaine withdrawal syndrome is that its effects are almost entirely psychological. Therefore, they are not visible at first glance and cannot be detected without a thorough analysis of the person. This is unlike alcohol withdrawal syndrome, for example, where the person experiences tremors, sweating, vomiting, and other physical symptoms.
To know if a person is suffering from cocaine withdrawal syndrome, close attention must be paid to their behavior. The absence of drug use can lead to abnormal behavior based on significant and unusual emotional and psychological changes.
Effects of Cocaine Withdrawal Syndrome
The effects of stopping cocaine use manifest once the addict abandons the habit or after a certain period of time without taking cocaine. From this moment on, the feeling of euphoria that frequently invaded them disappears and is replaced by despondency. The person feels very depressed, without energy, and emotionally defeated.
Subsequently, the most common effects of cocaine withdrawal appear:
- Loss of mood
- Accentuated fatigue
- Trying to figure out how to sleep after using cocaine
- Negative mood swings
- Irritability
- Problems concentrating
- Decrease in performance and productivity
- Anxiety episodes
- Increased appetite
- Increased sleep and drowsiness
- Nightmares and intense dreams
- Paranoid attitudes
The Duration of Cocaine Withdrawal Syndrome
Determining how long cocaine withdrawal lasts is a complex process that depends on several factors. To find out precisely, one would first have to analyze the addict’s behavior regarding the drug in question. Characteristics that can indicate the duration of withdrawal syndrome are, for example:
- Quantity consumed
- Frequency of use
- Route of administration
- Method of cocaine consumption
However, generally speaking, there are 3 phases in overcoming cocaine withdrawal syndrome:
- First phase: Also known as the mild despondency or crash phase. Its duration is indeterminate and can range from a few hours to 5 days. In this first stage, the addict feels weak, depressed, has difficulty sleeping, and is irritable. The phenomenon known as craving, the intense desire to use cocaine again, appears.
- Second phase: This is the phase of more pronounced suffering, and it is known as severe withdrawal. It can last between 1 and 10 weeks, and its main danger is the high probability of relapse into cocaine use. The effects experienced in the previous phase subside in intensity during the first few days, and then reappear after some time.
- Third phase: Known as the extinction stage, it has no exact duration, and the person’s behavior gradually returns to normal. They regain their mood and no longer feel as low or depressed as in previous phases. However, a remnant desire to use cocaine still exists. This can appear due to two specific options. On the one hand, nostalgia for re-experiencing the euphoric sensation produced by cocaine use. Or, on the other hand, due to the influence of the immediate environment that encourages them to use again.
Even if an addict experiences these 3 phases of cocaine withdrawal syndrome, the possibility of relapse always remains highly probable. Therefore, constant attention must be paid to avoid returning to cocaine use.
How to Quit Cocaine: Addiction Treatment
When people suffer from an addiction and/or an addictive disorder, it is important to detect it early and take action as soon as possible. From the outset, they will feel alone, unmotivated, and with little capacity for rehabilitation. Therefore, it is essential to ask for help from family, friends, colleagues, and the immediate environment to facilitate the recovery process.
An addict can also seek professional help from an addiction treatment center. An environment with experts specialized in addictions who can recommend the best way to overcome the addiction. Without a doubt, it is a very useful option to alleviate the suffering and risks that may occur along the way.
CCAdicciones is an addiction rehabilitation center specializing in cocaine treatment. Contact our professional addiction therapists and we will help you.
