What is the Timeline for Cocaine Detox?

Cocaine is a powerful drug, but it’s possible to break the cycle of addiction with a drug detox. Treating the psychological and physical symptoms of cocaine addiction are crucial. The timeline varies from patient to patient depending on the level of their addiction and their physical health. The safest place to treat cocaine addiction are inpatient rehabs, because they physically separate the individual from their drug of choice and provide medical monitoring and support.

Cocaine excites the center in the brain which produces dopamine. Dopamine is a natural brain chemical that is released during pleasurable experiences, so the decrease in dopamine with withdrawal can cause depression. Desipramine is an anti -depressant that is often used to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in a person withdrawing from cocaine. Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam can also be used to treat the anxiety that is often associated with cocaine detox. Amantadine, which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease, is thought to be effective in treating intense cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Bromocriptine is one of the most common medications used during the cocaine withdrawal process.

The Cocaine Detox Timeline

During the first few days of withdrawal, a patient may feel confusion and also extreme hunger because cocaine is a hunger suppressant. It’s recommended that a patient sleep for long periods because cocaine abuse causes sleeplessness. Physical symptoms of withdrawal include anxiety, apathy, irritability, and paranoia.

After a week, a patient may feel slightly better, but may slip back into depressive symptoms, mood disorders, and sleeping problems. Cravings can also disappear and reappear. After the first week of withdrawal, symptoms may remain in a patient like agitation, nightmares, and increased appetite.

In the two weeks after acute cocaine detox, the cravings for the drug can start to return and a patient may still continue to experience hunger, anger, and depression.

After about a month, you may start to experience unaccountable changes of mood. Sleep and depression may still be a problem. These issues can be addressed through exercise and a healthy diet. Many former cocaine users cannot handle stress, so relapse is common after a month. Though relapse is possible, with a supportive doctor, network of friends, and counselors, cocaine detox doesn’t have to be insufferable.

It takes a week to physically detox from coke, but psychologically recovering can take much longer. With help from a psychologist, a recovering coke addict can get to the roots of their addiction to finally break their addiction to cocaine. With physical and psychological assistance, a patient can recover from their addiction and become the person they were meant to be.