Author: Alex Thompson

Crack Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, & Detox

Crack is a crystallized, free base form of cocaine that is incredibly potent and addictive. Affecting the central nervous system, crack smoking triggers an immediate dopamine response in the brain and produces an intense, euphoric high. While undergoing this treatment process, the patient can avoid situational crack cravings and those cravings for other substances. Often, someone who has participated in crack cocaine abuse is sleep deprived, so they may need extra rest and large meals to recover for the first 24 to 36 hours. Cocaine causes your brain to release elevated levels of certain brain chemicals. To find out if our treatment options are a good fit for yourself or a loved one, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center today.

Using these substances floods the brain with dopamine, a natural chemical that is part of the brain’s reward system; it stimulates the brain, numbs pain, and helps us feel pleasure. Crack is a freebase form of cocaine that is processed using water and either ammonia or baking soda, until it forms a rock crystal that can be smoked. Crack cocaine is also known as “rock,” because it looks like small, hard shards of rock. People typically smoke crack by heating it in a glass pipe; however, they may also add it to tobacco cigarettes or marijuana joints.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. The purified form of the extract, which looks like fine, white, powdered crystals, was initially used for medicinal purposes. Additional long-term complications of crack are much more extensive and will depend on several factors, such as the duration and intensity of use. Outpatient treatment is a good choice if you have strong support at home or have recently completed residential treatment.

Crack Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline and Detox

Ark Behavioral Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. You may feel anxious or agitated at first, followed by fatigue and symptoms of depression. Although you may feel exhausted, some people experience insomnia and have difficulty falling or staying asleep. A crash may be brought on after the body becomes overwhelmed from frequent use over several hours or days. With crack cocaine, the crash phase usually begins within hours after the last use and may last 3-4 days.

Users stop using crack cold turkey with the help of medical experts and medicines to counter the adverse symptoms of withdrawal. Crack withdrawal symptoms can begin within 24 hours of the last dose and continue for up to five days. These symptoms can vary from person to person, but they are often uncomfortable and can prevent people from quitting the drug.

It’s important to note that crack is not tapered down before being discontinued, as is common practice for certain other drugs like benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medications. Medication may also be prescribed to address some of the different side-effects of cocaine withdrawal like anxiety, sleeplessness, or high blood pressure. If someone in your life has a crack addiction, it’s important to support them and help them find evidence-based treatment that works for them, Dr. Tetrault says. As a result, people need to take more of the drug more frequently in order to achieve the same high and prevent withdrawal symptoms. Dr. Tetrault explains that repeatedly using crack or cocaine can cause changes in the brain’s reward circuitry, which can make people use it compulsively, despite the harm it causes.

1. Studies have shown that these uncomfortable feelings can discourage cocaine use and prevent relapses.
2. If you are looking for a Crack Cocaine addiction treatment program, contact a treatment provider for more information.
3. The psychological symptoms of Crack Cocaine withdrawal, including intense craving, drug dreams, and obsessive thoughts to use often last much longer.

Outpatient programs provide scheduled sessions that you attend at the treatment center. You may have access to family counseling, individual therapy, and wellness activities. Although cocaine withdrawal doesn’t produce the same physical symptoms as opiates or alcohol, it can trigger symptoms of depression. Severe symptoms of depression may cause suicidal thoughts, which should be consulted with a medical professional. Medical and mental health professionals can help you manage your withdrawal and can give you the support you need to quit. A crack addiction can put a person at risk for serious health consequences, including death.

If you are going through cocaine withdrawal symptoms, or know someone who is, never hesitate to reach out for support. The withdrawal symptoms of cocaine use can vary depending on the person and on the length and severity of their cocaine use. Participants must quit cold turkey and complete the detox/withdrawal process before their addiction recovery program can begin.

How to Safely Withdraw From Crack

Outpatient treatment is often ideal for milder crack cocaine addiction cases. The medications a doctor prescribes to the person recovering from a crack addiction will depend entirely on the person’s health. The battle against crack addiction often requires ongoing, repeated treatment. The challenges against abstaining come from the drug’s high potential for addiction. Addiction specialists do not recommend quitting crack “cold turkey.” Instead, consult a health professional for the detoxification process. Due to the time-sensitive nature of withdrawal, it’s important to find help as soon as the problem arises.

In essence, CBT helps clients learn new, drug-free ways to cope with triggers that might encourage them to use crack again. CBT is known to be effective and long-lasting as clients can continue utilizing these strategies once their therapy sessions have ended. Long-term treatment also provides an opportunity for the individual to physically withdraw from crack while they focus on their mental and emotional rehabilitation.

Guide to Crack Cocaine Withdrawal

The start of the crack cocaine withdrawal timeline varies from user to user, depending on genetics, metabolism, and overall health. Medical professionals advise against the cold turkey detox method, particularly at home. When someone abruptly stops using crack, withdrawal can begin rapidly and be more severe. It can also lead to an overdose if someone returns to a high dosage of crack after not taking it for a period of time. At The Recovery Village, we work to help clients uncover the roots of their crack addiction. Clients stay at one of the inpatient rehabilitation facilities where they participate in therapy and learn to cope with addiction and co-occurring disorders in a positive environment.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms in newborns

Individuals may experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms like paranoia, anxiety, insomnia, body aches, severe fatigue, irritability, restlessness, and intense cravings. Intensive outpatient programs are less involved than partial hospitalization programs and typically take place at a treatment center or outpatient clinic. Clients receiving intensive outpatient treatment will usually visit the center 2 to 5 days per week for 2 to 4 hours per day. IOP is well suited to clients who have just completed inpatient rehab and wish to receive intensive treatment while living off-site. If you or a loved one has abused crack and has decided to quit, speak to your doctor or a medical professional about your detoxification treatment options.

In the first week of withdrawing from crack cocaine, users recover from the worst extreme physical signs and symptoms and might feel as if they are fully recovered. This can be dangerous as studies have shown that people tend to relax and be more exposed to relapse. Therefore, it is advised that you should seek detox services within a drug treatment center and possess a support system to rally you on during tough days and cravings. After completing the detoxing process, adhere to the guidelines of physicians and experts, which might entail joining an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation program.

Beta-blockers such as Propranolol can reduce anxiety and restless symptoms that follow withdrawal from crack or cocaine. Propranolol may also reduce the euphoric effects of cocaine, which can discourage future use. While only small clinical trials have been done so far, these drugs may prove helpful in preventing relapse and cravings by blocking the euphoric effects of cocaine and crack. Some of the promising antispasmodics and anticonvulsants include Baclofen, Tiagabine, and Topiramate. Unlike opioid addiction, which is treated using medications like Suboxone, there are currently no federally-approved medications used to treat crack withdrawal. However, research has shown that the medications below may reduce withdrawal symptoms.