Detox is the crucial first step in the recovery process. Detoxing takes place by ridding the body of any and all harmful substances that are in it so that the healing process can begin.
When not properly monitored, cocaine detox can be dangerous and life-threatening. That’s why the detox process should always be done under the care and supervision of the trained medical professionals found at a treatment center such as Restorations Health Care in Anaheim, CA.
What is Cocaine Detox
Cocaine detox is the process in which you rid your body of all the cocaine that is in it. Without getting rid of the cocaine in your system, the healing process can not truly begin.
Cocaine is a fast-acting, short-lasting stimulant drug that comes from the coca plant. It’s a Schedule II substance meaning that it has very few legal, medical uses and has a high propensity to be abused.
As a highly addictive and short-acting substance of abuse, withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process can be severe and begin quickly, sometimes in as little as 24 hours after the last use.
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Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms occur when the cocaine leaves the body and the brain doesn’t get any more of it. Once the brain has built up a dependency on cocaine, it thinks it needs cocaine in order to function properly.
When it no longer gets cocaine, the brain goes into a shock-like state which results in withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can begin to occur in as little as 24 hours after the last dose was taken. Symptoms can last for weeks or even months depending on the severity and may require medical attention.
Since cocaine is a stimulant, it often doesn’t produce physical symptoms. It can, however, produce debilitating psychological symptoms
Common side effects and symptoms of cocaine withdrawal include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Vivid dreams or hallucinations
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Paranoia
- Intense cravings
- Hostility
- Cognitive issues
- Slowed activity or thinking
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
These symptoms are not just unpleasant, but they can also be dangerous when not properly monitored and treated. When the time comes to go through cocaine detox, it is important that it be done under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals.
Detox can be done at either a local medical facility, a dedicated cocaine detox center, or an addiction treatment center that offers detox programs such as Restorations Health Care.
If you or a loved one is suffering from cocaine addiction in and around Anaheim, Los Angeles, and the greater Southern California area, contact us today to learn about our detox services so that they can get started with their cocaine addiction treatment program.
Cocaine Detox Timeline
The length of time you spend in a cocaine detox program can vary based on a variety of factors such as:
- Overall health
- Age
- Gender
- The severity of the substance abuse or addiction
- Co-occurring disorders
- The amount of cocaine you were taking
- The type of cocaine you were using
- The length of time you were taking cocaine
- If you were mixing cocaine with other substances such as opioids, prescription drugs, or benzodiazepines
Typically, cocaine detox takes anywhere from five to seven days but in some cases can take up to three weeks.
Below is a basic timeline of what you can expect during the cocaine detox and withdrawal process.
Day 1 (Admission)
Since withdrawal symptoms can begin to occur in as little as 24 hours after the last dose of cocaine was taken, it is crucial to begin the medically-supervised detox process right away. Once you get to the treatment facility or rehab center where you will be detoxing, you will go through the admissions process where a treatment plan will be created for you before you.
Feelings of hostility, anxiety, and depression will typically begin right away as you grow frustrated that you can’t have cocaine anymore. You will also experience intense cravings as a result of your substance use disorder.
Days 2-4
Over the next few days, symptoms will typically worsen, often peaking around the 3-5 day mark. During this time, the medical professionals monitoring you will likely administer medications in order to help alleviate some of the symptoms and make the process more comfortable.
Days 5-7 (Discharge)
Once your withdrawal symptoms have peaked they will slowly begin to subside before going away entirely.
In rare cases, some psychological symptoms will continue to linger for weeks or even months after detox has been completed. These symptoms are known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
Once it has been deemed by treatment professionals that you have successfully completed detox treatment, you will be discharged. After you’re discharged from detox, the next step is to enter an inpatient (residential treatment), outpatient, intensive outpatient, or partial hospitalization treatment program in the Southern California area.
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At Restorations Health Care in Anaheim, CA, we understand that the detox process can be difficult and uncomfortable. Our goal is to make the process as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Our trained detox professionals will offer medication-assisted treatment when necessary to make the detox process more comfortable and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with drug addiction.
Contact us today if you or a loved one is looking to stop taking cocaine and is in need of substance abuse treatment in Orange County or throughout California.
Medications for Cocaine Detox
While there are currently no FDA-approved medications for treating cocaine withdrawal, there are medications that can be administered to address cocaine withdrawal symptoms while detoxing.
The following medications are often used to treat withdrawal symptoms associated with cocaine detox:
- Propranolol
- Baclofen
- Tiagabine
- Topiramate
- Disulfiram
- Modafinil
- Antidepressants
Detox from Cocaine at Our Anaheim Detox
Detoxing and withdrawing from cocaine can be unpleasant. Self-detoxing, or trying to quit “cold turkey” can not only be unpleasant, but it can also be dangerous, life-threatening, and can increase the chances of a relapse.
By undergoing medically monitored detox, you will be able to go through the detox and withdrawal process in a safe environment and under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals.
The team at Restorations Healthcare in Anaheim, CA understands how important detox is to the overall treatment process. That’s why, in addition to our inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment and our various therapies, we also offer medical detox at our treatment facility.
Contact us today for more information about our treatment options and services, including cocaine detox.
Schedule an appointment today.
Sources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, January 26). What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States? National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-scope-cocaine-use-in-united-states
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, June 11). How is cocaine addiction treated? National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-treatments-are-effective-cocaine-abusers
Cocaine detox symptoms, timeline, medications and treatment – mental help. MentalHelp.net. (2022, April 20). Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/substance-abuse/cocaine/detox/
Kampman, K. M. (2005, December). New medications for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)). Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994240/
WebMD. (n.d.). Cocaine Detox: What you can expect. WebMD. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/cocaine/what-to-expect-from-cocaine-detox
Substance abuse and mental health services administration. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma15-4131.pdfU.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Cocaine withdrawal: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000947.htm