Cocaine Detox: What To Expect And How To Prepare

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that is derived from the leaves of South America’s coca plant. It’s had multiple uses in the region, including ceremonial and medical. However, it is highly illegal in the United States. Under the Controlled Substances Act, it is a Schedule II stimulant, which means that it has some limited medical use but also a high potential for abuse.

Stimulant drugs like cocaine can have a range of effects when they are taken. A notable effect is increased energy. It can also make people quite happy and improve their mood. Another effect is dependence, which is when a person’s body becomes physically acclimated to the presence of cocaine.

This dependence can cause a person to become uncomfortable when they stop taking cocaine for whatever reason, such as when they have to detox from the drug.

Resilient Recovery is a world-class treatment centre in Lancaster, California, that can support patients through all phases of treatment, including medically supervised detox.

What Is Cocaine Detox?

Cocaine detox is the process by which a person purges their body of cocaine. It can be an uncomfortable process due to the possibility of going through withdrawal. That said, detox is an integral part of a treatment program as it clears a patient’s body of illicit substances and gets them sober enough for further care and support.

What to Expect During Cocaine Detox

The process of detox can be difficult and uncomfortable. Here’s what to expect when undergoing supervised detox:

Monitoring

As part of medical detox, a patient will be carefully monitored. Heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature will be observed since stimulants can cause cardiovascular issues.

Support

Psychological support will also be provided, as withdrawing from cocaine can be mentally and emotionally draining.

Medical Intervention

In severe cases of withdrawal, the medical team supervising detox will intervene and stabilize a patient.

Medication Management

While there are no specific medications that have been approved to address cocaine withdrawal directly, symptoms such as anxiety and depression may be treated with the appropriate medication.

What Causes Cocaine Withdrawal?

Using cocaine, especially for an extended time, can lead to the mind and body becoming dependent on cocaine to function normally. This makes it so that the body and the mind both have to adjust when a person stops their use of cocaine.

One example of this is that the brain becomes dependent on cocaine to maintain its dopamine levels. When the cocaine is gone, those levels drop drastically.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline

Withdrawal from cocaine doesn’t happen all at once. Withdrawal symptoms may appear in phases such as:

First Phase

Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal may begin to appear around 24 hours after the last use of cocaine. These symptoms can last around seven days. Symptoms include anxiety, depression, increased appetite, irritability, fatigue, and cravings for cocaine.

Second Phase

In the second phase of withdrawal, physical symptoms may decrease, but psychological symptoms can linger. Anxiety and depression can remain. A person can also become lethargic. Cravings will persist, and they may also have difficulty concentrating. This phase of withdrawal can last for weeks.

Third Phase

The third phase of cocaine withdrawal can last for months after the last use of cocaine. At this point, most symptoms will be gone, but depression, mood swings, and cocaine cravings may linger.

The length of cocaine withdrawal and the severity of symptoms can be influenced by factors such as the patient’s health and the size and severity of their cocaine abuse.

Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction can present with many symptoms. An incredibly worrying symptom of addiction is tolerance. When a person develops a tolerance to a drug, their bodies can acclimate to the drug and dull its effects. This can compel many people affected by cocaine addiction to take more cocaine to achieve the desired high.

Another symptom of addiction is dependence. This can lead to the withdrawal symptoms outlined above during detox and withdrawal.

Many people who develop a cocaine addiction can also become secretive as they may try to hide their cocaine habits from their friends and family. They may withdraw socially or begin spending time with others who share their habit.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment After Detox from Cocaine

Detox is only the first part of a person’s treatment. Detoxing from cocaine doesn’t mean that a person is cured of their addiction. Other parts of treatment for cocaine addiction include:

Inpatient Rehabilitation

One of the most potent tools in overcoming addiction is inpatient rehab. While in a treatment facility, a person who has a cocaine addiction will receive intensive support and continuous monitoring to help stop using cocaine.

Outpatient Rehabilitation

An alternative to inpatient treatment is outpatient rehab. In outpatient treatment, a person integrates their treatment into their day-to-day lives. They may attend multiple therapy sessions a week while continuing to live at home and live their everyday lives.

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

Treatment does not end when a person leaves inpatient treatment. Aftercare is an important part of treatment as a person’s urge to use cocaine may linger long after their treatment. Aftercare can be instrumental in helping a person maintain their sobriety and prevent them from relapsing.

We Can Support You During the Detox Process 

Detox is the first step in recovery. It may not be the easiest step, but it is important.

We know that it can seem daunting, and recovery can be. We also know that many people are stronger than they think they are because many people who didn’t believe they could recover from addiction were able to overcome their addiction and rebuild their lives. 

At Resilient Recovery, our priority is helping you become one of the many people who overcome addiction. Contact us now so we can help you begin your recovery journey together.