Cocaine has far-reaching detrimental effects to your brain and body that make it a particularly dangerous recreational drug. If you or someone you know is addicted to cocaine, we at Knoxville Recovery Center, a premier detox clinic in Tennessee, are waiting to speak with them.

Perhaps you tried cocaine once, out of curiosity and now you have found yourself using it habitually. Every addiction starts with doing a drug just one time. Whether you snort it, inject it or smoke it as crack, make no mistake about it, using cocaine is a risky game. 

If you are reading this, you may be thinking about giving up cocaine. Going through cocaine detox is not easy, but have faith that it is something that you can do with a little professional help from us. Let’s take a moment to establish what you can expect from cocaine detox, what not to expect, and just how long detox is going to last. 

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

When you make the choice to use cocaine, you generally feel the effects for 3.5 to 5.5 hours after taking it. 

If you have only tried cocaine once, it will show up in your urine for 3-5 days afterward. If you are an occasional user, it is detectable for 3-7 days later. For a heavy user, cocaine may be present in your urine 5-14 days after your last dose. 

If you are trying to get a job, or keep a job for that matter, employers often require that you pass a drug test. This is only one reason why experimenting with cocaine just isn’t worth the risk. 

The Dangers of Continuing to Use Cocaine

The main problem with using cocaine is that eventually you may become addicted to it, as using it causes long-term changes in the brain’s reward circuit. This is especially true when you choose to smoke cocaine as crack.

Perhaps the most worrisome consequence of using cocaine is the fact that you can easily overdose on it. People often mix cocaine with alcohol, which can be a problem. Others mix heroin with cocaine, which is particularly dangerous. 

When you overdose on cocaine, you could experience a heart attack, seizure or a stroke. Doing too much cocaine may cause you to hallucinate, become extremely agitated, or feel overly anxious. 

Something that you need to remember is that when you use cocaine, it is always combined with something. If it’s mixed with flour or baby powder, consider yourself lucky. If it is mixed with the synthetic opioid fentanyl instead, you could be snorting a deadly combination. 

Thinking about giving up your cocaine habit? Let’s talk for a moment about what to expect from cocaine withdrawals. 

What Are Cocaine Withdrawals Like?

If you are addicted to cocaine, and you suddenly stop using it, your body goes through withdrawals as it adjusts to being without the drug. This is a completely normal part of the process that you must go through during rehab. With cocaine withdrawals, your withdrawal symptoms are primarily emotional as opposed to physical. When going through cocaine withdrawals, you can expect to experience some or several of the following symptoms:

• Feeling agitated or restless
• Depression
• Headaches
• Increased hunger
• Feeling uncomfortable
• Tiredness
• Vivid nightmares
• Suicidal thoughts
• Slowing of activity

Along with these symptoms, it is normal to feel powerful cravings to do cocaine.

How Long Should I Expect the Cocaine Detox Period to Last?

You will begin to feel detox symptoms only a few hours after you have taken your last dose. Your symptoms will feel the worst about 24 hours later, and will continue for a few days, depending on the severity of your addiction. For some, psychological withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks and even months. 

At this time, there are no medications approved for cocaine detox. However, there are several different medications that can help relieve specific symptoms that you may be experiencing during your cocaine withdrawal period. When you choose to get professional help while detoxing, you may receive medication for depression, headaches and other common symptoms for example. 

Will I Still Want to Do Cocaine After I Have Completed Rehab?

It would be nice to tell you that after rehab is over, that you will never be tempted to use cocaine ever again. However, this is simply not the case. Particularly if you used a large amount of cocaine for a long time, you are more likely to develop a condition called post-acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS. 

With this condition, you experience psychological symptoms that put you at risk for relapse. These symptoms may feel like a rollercoaster ride, that can come and go unexpectedly. PAWS may last for up to a year after your initial detox period is over. 

Here are some of the symptoms you may feel when you experience PAWS:

• Depression and anxiety
• Low energy and fatigue
• Insomnia
• Low sex drive
• Chronic pain
• Mood swings
• Hostility and irritability
• Inability to focus

Along with these symptoms, you may feel a strong urge to use cocaine again. 

Your Journey Begins at Knoxville Recovery Center

Giving up cocaine may be difficult, but it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do for yourself. We at Knoxville Recovery Center are here to guide you through the process, every step of the way.

Attempting to quit cocaine on your own is likely a recipe for failure. When you try and do it without professional help, you are much more likely to relapse as the temptation around you is just too great. 

Our job is to keep you as safe and as comfortable as possible during your cocaine detox period. Though your withdrawals may be difficult, we promise to stand beside you and provide strength and encouragement. 

Why wait another day? There is no time like the present to get your life back in order. Call us today and take the first step toward sobriety.