How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Last?

Recovering from a cocaine addiction can be challenging – but choosing recovery is the right choice. Recognising that you need to make a change and start your path to sobriety is often one of the hardest parts.

Getting through the withdrawal process can be difficult – especially if you’re not sure how long it is going to last.

In this blog post, we will help you to understand how long you may feel withdrawal symptoms and the ways you can manage them.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a strong and highly addictive stimulant drug made from the coca plant. People often use it for a quick high, or to feel more energetic and confident.

However, taking this drug is extremely risky and can lead to life-threatening health problems and addiction.

You must reach out to someone if you feel you are struggling with an addiction to cocaine so that you can seek the relevant help.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

When your body becomes reliant on the drug, you will start to feel withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug. If you are trying to stop using the drug completely, these withdrawal symptoms may begin to feel more intense depending on your addiction and how your body reacts.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms may include:

• • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Increased appetite
  • Vivid dreams
  • Intense cravings for the drug
  • Paranoia
  • Intense mood swings
  • Severe agitation or restlessness
  • Physical symptoms such as tremors, muscle aches, and sweating

Managing these symptoms may be difficult and you may find that the only way to stop it is to continue to use the drug to avoid having these feelings.

However, this can worsen your addiction to the drug. Having a severe addiction can come with so many negative health consequences. Stopping the use of the drug is the best option for yourself and your health – even if it doesn’t feel that way now.

How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Last?

The length of your withdrawal symptoms can depend on multiple factors such as how long you have used the drug, how much you use and the way your body reacts.

The First Week

Withdrawal usually hits hardest in the first few days. You might feel exhausted, down, and really hungry.

Cravings and mood swings can be very intense, making it difficult to resist the urge to start using again.

This is why it is important that you have people around you who will understand and can help keep you motivated to carry on.

Second week

During the second week, your withdrawal symptoms will start to ease and your body will start to adjust to the absence of cocaine and get used to not having it in its system.

You may still feel some of the symptoms you felt in the first week however they won’t be as severe and a lot easier to manage.

However, you may start to crave cocaine and the feeling that it gives you that’s why it is important to remain honest with your support system about how you are feeling so they can support you through this in the best way possible for you.

Week 4

By the fourth week, some of the more difficult symptoms will disappear however the cravings and urges to use the drug may stick around.

Finding healthy ways to cope and staying connected to support can help. Finding new activities and starting a new hobby or routine can help you keep your mind off the cravings.

Week 8

On week 8, you may be feeling a lot better and your health will start to improve as you begin to crave the drug less and handling the sudden cravings will become a lot easier to deal with.

You will feel happier and healthier and the people around you will start to notice you becoming back to your usual self.

Ways to Cope With Withdrawals

Dealing with withdrawal isn’t easy, but there are ways to make it more manageable:

Have a Solid Support System

Having people around you whom you trust or a counsellor can really help you to keep on track with your recovery and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Having somebody you can talk to whenever you feel down or feel like your cravings are becoming too overwhelming will make managing your withdrawal symptoms a lot easier.

Stay Active

Staying active or starting a new hobby can help to keep your mind off cravings and also help your body to recover. Staying active will also help your mental health and motivation and alleviate stress and anxiety.

Eat a Healthy Balanced Diet

Staying hydrated and making sure your body is getting the right nutrients is crucial during this time. Withdrawal can put a lot of stress on your body, due to it feeling deprived by a drug that it is addicted to.

Make sure you are nourishing your body correctly and staying hydrated – this will help your body to heal from some of the negative side effects the cocaine abuse has caused.

Practising Self-Care Activities

Practising self-care activities can help to manage symptoms and promote overall well-being.

Meditation techniques such as focused breathing or guided imagery can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, making it easier to cope with cravings and mood swings. You could even try yoga to help alleviate physical tension and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being.

These techniques can be helpful for managing symptoms like muscle aches, restlessness, and insomnia.

Can I Quit Cold Turkey?

Quitting cocaine “cold turkey” is not recommended. It can be challenging due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms and potential risks, especially for those with a severe addiction or underlying health issues.

If you are thinking of quitting cocaine abruptly, you should speak to a health professional about this or a rehab specialist to see if this is the best option for you.

Cocaine Home Detox with Home Detox UK

Cocaine addiction can have a strong impact on your mental health and well-being that is why at Home Detox UK we have created an option for you to detox from home.

Detoxing from home can really help you with your journey as you are somewhere where you can detox privately in a familiar environment where you feel safe.

This way, you can have your family and friends around you to support you through your journey.

Our programs are personalised and tailored to you and our detox experts will create your plan around your specific addiction, needs and circumstances.

You will be able to access support 24/7, and our specialists are there to help and guide you through every step of the way. We can ensure that you feel safe and comfortable and can provide the tools you need for a successful recovery.

Start your journey to sobriety today with a free consultation and reclaim a happier healthier life free of addiction.