Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, & Detox

Cocaine is a powerful, highly addictive illegal stimulant drug that can cause a range of adverse health effects.¹ When used repeatedly, cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain that can contribute to the development of cocaine addiction.¹ A person can also be at risk of developing cocaine dependence which can cause withdrawal if the drug is abruptly reduced or stopped.

Stimulant withdrawal typically results in less severe symptoms than those associated with alcohol, opioid, and sedative dependence.² However, due to potential complications and risks, a person may still benefit from or require closer medical attention as they undergo cocaine withdrawal.²

This article will help you understand:

• What causes cocaine withdrawal
• The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal
• How long cocaine withdrawal lasts
• Cocaine withdrawal treatment options

What Causes Cocaine Withdrawal?

A person who regularly uses cocaine and tries to quit cocaine cold turkey may experience cocaine withdrawal.³ This typically happens when a person is dependent on cocaine, which occurs due to chronic, and typically high dose, cocaine use.

Dependence is a physiological adaptation of the body to a substance, wherein the body becomes so used to the drug being present in the system that when the individual cuts back on their use or quits, withdrawal symptoms emerge. With significant levels of physiological dependence, a person may continue to compulsively drink or use drugs to avoid unwanted withdrawal symptoms.

Chronic cocaine use can result in adaptations in the reward circuit and other areas of the brain, including areas associated with stress.¹ Cocaine causes a buildup of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with feelings of euphoria, pleasure, and reward.¹ This buildup of dopamine is what makes a person experience the “high,” or intense pleasurable effects associated with cocaine use.^{1, 6}

Cocaine’s effects do not last long and typically subside after a few minutes to 1 hour depending on the method of use (e.g., smoking, snorting).⁷ This is one reason why people sometimes use cocaine in binges. When the high subsides, a person may use more cocaine to continue feeling the pleasurable effects and to avoid withdrawal symptoms.^{3, 7} With repeated use, the brain adapts to the presence of increased levels of dopamine. As a result, a person needs to take increasing doses to experience previous effects (known as tolerance), and to prevent withdrawal. This reinforces cocaine use and can fuel the cycle of addiction.^{5, 7}

Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal

Signs of cocaine withdrawal can include:^{2, 3}

• Depression
• Hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness) or insomnia
• Fatigue
• Agitation
• Paranoia
• Poor concentration
• Psychomotor retardation (slowed mental or physical activities)
• Increased appetite
• Drug cravings
• Vivid or unpleasant dreams

Withdrawal from cocaine isn’t typically considered to be life-threatening or medically dangerous, however, there are potential complications a person should be aware of, including cardiovascular issues (e.g., irregular heartbeat, heart attack) and seizures.²

Mental health concerns are another potential complication but are often overlooked. Withdrawal from cocaine can be very distressing, and, in certain cases, lead to severe psychiatric concerns, such as profound depression or suicidal ideation.²

The severity of withdrawal can vary from person to person and is based on multiple factors, including the amount of cocaine a person normally uses and how often they use it.⁸ Generally, cocaine withdrawal symptoms are less severe than those associated with other substances such as alcohol and opioids, but withdrawal experiences can vary, and may in some cases require close medical attention, such as found that found in a cocaine detox program.²

How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Last?

The cocaine withdrawal timeline can vary. Acute withdrawal symptoms typically appear within a few hours of a person’s last use and tend to subside after several days of abstinence, but symptoms can persist for 3 to 4 weeks.^{2, 3}

However, people who struggle with stimulant abuse or addiction often have difficulty maintaining abstinence, so persistent withdrawal symptoms can be a feature of active addiction, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).²

Postacute withdrawal involves symptoms that may last 2 or more weeks after a person’s last use.⁸ It can be accompanied by increased appetite, fatigue, mood changes, and strong cravings that may cause a person to binge or return to their previous level of use.⁸

Some people may also experience protracted withdrawal. This can involve ongoing withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue, anxiety, severe depression, and cravings—which can reemerge or be stronger in some cases—that may persist for months.⁸ The duration and severity of protracted withdrawal are usually correlated with the duration and severity of a person’s previous cocaine use.⁸

Additionally, after 3 to 6 months of abstinence, some people may experience depression, which can be associated with a high likelihood of resuming cocaine use.⁸

Cocaine Detox Programs

Unlike withdrawal from other substances like alcohol and opioids, symptoms of stimulant withdrawal aren’t typically treated aggressively with medications as there are no FDA medications approved for cocaine withdrawal.²

However, because cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be distressing or lead to certain complications, symptoms can often be managed through detox interventions through a cocaine detox program.² SAMHSA indicates that acute treatment programs (detox from cocaine), at a cocaine detox center, may treat patients for 3 to 10 days for observation during the initial withdrawal period as the body returns to a state of homeostasis, the body’s natural ability to maintain critical functions (e.g., blood glucose levels and temperature).⁸

Cocaine detox involves a set of interventions designed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, help a person achieve a medically stable and substance-free state, clear the body of toxins caused by the substance through a cocaine detox program, and allow for the transition into ongoing treatment.²

Getting treatment through a professional detox program for cocaine detox can provide many benefits, including:

• Safety and comfort.
• Access to medical care, if needed.
• Receiving support to help individuals avoid relapsing during this difficult time.

Although no medications have been developed for stimulant withdrawal, people may receive medications for symptomatic relief of specific complaints, such as headache and insomnia, as a part of a withdrawal management program as they detox from cocaine.²

Promising research has been conducted on the potential benefits of some medications to reduce certain symptoms of cocaine withdrawal, but many of these studies have been small or have only been conducted on animal models.⁹

Cocaine detox can be an important part of treatment for many people, but it is not intended as a substitute for more comprehensive addiction rehabilitation.² It is often the first step in the recovery process that can help prepare a person for ongoing treatment, such as inpatient or outpatient rehab.² Rehab can help a person address the behavioral, psychological, and social factors related to addiction.²

Once an individual elects getting treatment with a cocaine detox program, there are several aspects of the process of beginning treatment.

• This involves a thorough assessment of the patient’s current health and their support system so that staff can have a comprehensive grasp of the strategies that will best help the individual through detox from cocaine.
• Management of the individual’s withdrawal symptoms to help them achieve abstinence and medical stability.
• Entry into treatment. Detox and withdrawal management may prepare the patient for continuing treatment that will address social, psychological, and behavioral aspects of their substance use disorder.

Finding A Cocaine Detox Center

If you or a loved one are struggling with cocaine use or addiction, you should know that professional cocaine detox and cocaine addiction treatment is available through a cocaine detox program or cocaine detox center and can help you take back control of your life.

When it comes to choosing a cocaine detox center, there are various things to consider. If you have insurance, you should check to see if a facility accepts your insurance. It’s also important to find out if there are other payment options available. You should also look into facility and staff accreditations as well as reviews. Location and amenities are also important to consider. No matter what type of amenities you want, there will be a cocaine detox program that will provide the care and support that you are looking for.

If you are unsure about where to start, contact one of our admission navigators at and they can help you figure out which program will be the right fit for you. You can also look at some of the facilities listed below to see if they provide the program you are looking for:

• California: Laguna Treatment Center
• Florida: Recovery First Treatment Center
• Florida: River Oaks Treatment Center
• Nevada: Desert Hope Treatment Center
• Mississippi: Oxford Treatment Center
• Texas: Greenhouse Treatment Center
• Other locations: Rehabs Near Me

Find Out If Your Insurance Plan Covers Cocaine Treatment

American Addiction Centers can help people recover from addiction. To find out if your insurance covers cocaine treatment for you or your loved one at an American Addiction Centers facility, click here, or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential. You can also click here to find a rehab near me.

FAQs on Cocaine Withdrawal