Published December 14, 2021 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~642 words

Coming off cocaine is rarely dangerous the way alcohol withdrawal is. What it does is drop you into a crash heavy enough that using again feels like the only way out. Cocaine has a long history behind that. Chewed as a leaf for thousands of years by the indigenous peoples of South America, it was later isolated, purified and sold as medicine, until its addictiveness and the overdoses put it on the United States Drug Schedule and pushed it onto a black market.

Cocaine addiction worries law enforcement, and it worries doctors and psychiatrists just as much. There are now therapies and medications that make withdrawal safer and less punishing than it used to be. A detox and treatment program can get someone off cocaine and back to health. At Pines Recovery Life, our cocaine detox program may be what you or someone you care about needs to overcome this form of addiction. Learn more about our programs and services today by calling 800.263.3869 or completing our online form.

What are the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal?

Withdrawal symptoms can start even when someone is cutting down and still using a smaller amount. Some of them show up almost immediately, along with intense cravings for the drug.

Some of the common symptoms of cocaine withdrawal include:

• Restlessness or agitation
• Increased appetite
• Muscle cramps or a feeling of general discomfort
• Feeling tired or sluggish
• Vivid or unpleasant dreams

Why is treatment needed for cocaine withdrawal?

The danger in cocaine withdrawal is not the physical withdrawal itself. It is what the chemistry and the psychology of it push a person toward. Going through it alone puts you at risk of:

• Becoming addicted to another substance. If the person uses another drug to ease the withdrawal symptoms, they risk moving their addiction from one substance to another.
• Overdose. When a person has used a drug for a while, they build up a tolerance to it. After cutting down or quitting, they might go back to the same dose with a lowered tolerance, and that can lead to an overdose.
• Suicide. Cocaine creates contentment and euphoria while it is being used, and when it stops, the crash that follows can cause a mental health crisis.

That is why it is worth talking to a substance use counselor at a cocaine detox or drug treatment program if you or someone you love is struggling to stop.

How is cocaine withdrawal treated?

At Pines Recovery Life, our medical staff and counselors assess each patient and decide on the course of detox. In the early stages the patient is monitored for problems and given medication to make the withdrawal easier to get through.

After the acute withdrawal, most patients move into a longer treatment program that keeps the medication and counseling going. The symptoms take a while to fade completely, though the acute flu-like stage only lasts a few days to a week. What follows is counseling and therapy, both to prevent relapse and to deal with the lingering effects of cocaine.

Treat cocaine withdrawal symptoms at Pines Recovery Life

If you or someone you love is using cocaine, contact a detox or drug treatment program in your area. In South Florida, reach the staff at Pines Recovery Life by filling out our online form or calling 800.263.3869 and begin your recovery today.