How to Treat Cocaine Addiction with Detoxification?

Considered as one of the highly addictive common used drugs, Cocaine delivers a brief euphoria lasting 20-30 minutes replaced by anxiety to use the drug again. Long-term usage of cocaine affects the decision-making ability certainly having high-risk for heart attacks and uneasy withdrawal.

According to the current statistics by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cocaine abuse is the leading cause behind drug-related visit to the emergency room in the U.S. When it comes to cocaine withdrawal, it may not be as severe as withdrawal from other substances, however, it surely has its own kind of difficulties to deal with.

Cocaine Withdrawl Side Effects

Unlike the intense physical symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol and other substance, the detoxification process of cocaine can result in the most serious psychological side effects. The symptoms related to withdrawal of cocaine include depression, anxiety, and problem in focusing, disability to feel pleasure, slower thinking, nightmares, and suicidal thoughts. It may also include some physical side effects such as fatigue, shivers, nerve pain, and muscle pain.

Cocaine Withdrawal timeline and the factors affecting it.
Image Source: American Addiction Centres

Although the detoxification process for cocaine can be usually carried out by an outpatient facility, however, in certain conditions it is recommended to conduct medical detoxification. In case an individual experience relapse in the previous detoxification process, then a medical detoxification is recommended along with the 24×7 observation.

Moreover, a co-occurring disorder must also be taken into consideration and medical detoxification for such individual needs to be followed by a full cocaine addiction treatment at an inpatient facility.

The increased risk of suicide is considered to be one the most challenging symptom of withdrawal. Individuals who try to discontinue the use of cocaine at the addiction level are more likely to experience severe depression and mood disorders which may also include suicidal thoughts and actions. It happens because high intake of cocaine tends to make their brains use to experience a constant overflow of dopamine.

National Institute on Drug Abuse states, cocaine stops re-absorption of dopamine, which consequently fills the brain that causes the state of euphoria related to the use of cocaine. Severe depression can occur when the brain is unable to experience that state of pleasure.

Cocaine Withdrawal and its after-effects.
Image Source: Michael’s House

In case an individual with current cocaine addiction has experienced depression or complained about having suicidal thoughts in the past, a medical detox is usually suggested in order to make sure the safety of the person over the course of the withdrawal process.

Comparatively, the effects of cocaine last for a very short span, therefore, the withdrawal side effects may start appearing within an hour or two after the intake of the last dose. The side effects of cocaine withdrawal may last varying duration based on different factors such as for how long and in what quantity the drug was being consumed.

The side effects of withdrawal from cocaine usually disappear within a period of one or two weeks. Similar to other substances, cured cocaine addicts can experience a sudden urge to intake cocaine even after a number of years have been passed since they have detoxified their brains and bodies from cocaine and completed their cocaine addiction treatment.

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