Call Us Now
You’ve probably heard of cocaine, but are you familiar with a cocaine comedown? Those who use cocaine often experience effects like euphoria, increased energy, and higher confidence. However, those effects eventually wear off, leaving people feeling drained and unable to function both physically and mentally. This is known as a cocaine comedown.
While different from cocaine withdrawal, the symptoms can still be challenging to cope with. Many people fall into a dangerous cycle of using cocaine, feeling great, then falling into a cocaine comedown. They then take more of the drug to feel better, and the cycle repeats itself, typically leading to an addiction.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What cocaine is
- What a cocaine comedown is
- What causes a cocaine comedown
- Symptoms of a cocaine comedown
- Cocaine comedown vs. withdrawal
- Treatment for a cocaine comedown
- Support for cocaine addiction
If you or a loved one is experiencing an addiction to cocaine or trying to manage the symptoms of a cocaine comedown, know that you’re not alone. The team at Mandala Healing Center can provide you with detailed information about potential treatment programs and answer any additional questions you have. Whether you’re looking for more information or ready to schedule an intake appointment, we’re here to help.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. When someone uses cocaine, it increases the amount of dopamine in their brain, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings like pleasure and motivation. Users start to experience a heightened sense of euphoria, energy, and alertness, which gets them hooked on the drug.
Cocaine comes in different forms, including powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. The powdered kind is usually snorted, injected, or rubbed onto the gums, while crack cocaine is smoked.
What Is a Cocaine Comedown?
Although the effects of cocaine are intense and pleasurable for those taking it, they’re also short-lived, typically lasting only 15 minutes to an hour. Once the drug wears off, the dopamine levels in the brain start to return to normal, causing side effects like exhaustion, mood swings, and cravings—an experience known as a cocaine comedown.
What Causes a Cocaine Comedown?
Since cocaine affects the mind and body so intensely, both have a hard time adjusting to the quick changes. As the body attempts to restore itself to its usual state, the physical and psychological symptoms become more apparent, usually lasting between 24-48 hours. Since many people turn to taking more of the drug to find relief, the result is often dependence, tolerance, and subsequent addiction.
Symptoms of a Cocaine Comedown
The symptoms of a cocaine comedown can vary from person to person, depending on the amount of the drug consumed, the individual’s tolerance, and how long they’ve been using. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Brain fog
- Agitation
- Increased appetite
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Sleepiness
- Paranoia
Comedown vs. Withdrawal From Cocaine
It can be easy to confuse a cocaine comedown with withdrawal from the drug. Although the symptoms of each do overlap, they’re ultimately different. Here are the key differences:
Duration:
- Cocaine withdrawal: Lasts anywhere from one week to several months
- Cocaine comedown: More temporary, normally lasting no longer than 48 hours
Intensity:
- Cocaine withdrawal: Intense and long-lasting symptoms like depression, sleep disturbances, and severe cravings
- Cocaine comedown: Uncomfortable, but more manageable symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, and brain fog
Cause:
- Cocaine withdrawal: Occurs when someone who is dependent on the drug stops using it completely
- Cocaine comedown: Happens after a single use of the drug when the effects begin to dissipate
Treatment needs for a cocaine comedown can also differ from those of withdrawal. People who stop using the drug often need professional support, whether that means detox programs, therapy, or medical support. Self-care methods are usually enough to recover from a comedown, though experiencing these episodes frequently could point to an addiction.
Treating a Cocaine Comedown
While cocaine comedowns may be uncomfortable, they usually don’t pose serious physical dangers. Although the best way to avoid them is to stop using cocaine, here are some other helpful tips to recover:
- Stay hydrated: Since cocaine dehydrates the body, it’s essential to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water or drinks with electrolytes to help your body recover. Caffeine and sugary drinks can make your symptoms worse, so try to avoid those.
- Get rest: One of the best things you can do for yourself during a cocaine comedown is rest. It may be difficult to sleep when you’re experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, but at least try to relax and take it easy for the day.
- Eat healthy foods: Using cocaine lowers glucose levels in the body, which can make you feel more tired than usual. One way to give your body more energy is by eating nutritious foods with lots of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs. These foods help stabilize your blood sugar, which greasy or sugary foods can lead to further crashes.
If you’re addicted to cocaine, it can feel impossible to not take more of the drug to cope with the effects of the comedown. However, this only exacerbates the cycle. Instead, it’s important to find natural ways to feel better, along with reaching out for additional support.
Cocaine Comedown Recovery
While a cocaine comedown is the body’s natural way of trying to recover from the drug’s effects, its symptoms are difficult to deal with. If you or a loved one is struggling with a cocaine addiction or the effects of a comedown, the team at Mandala Healing Center can help. Our evidence-based treatment programs can provide you with the support, guidance, and resources you need for long-term health and recovery.
Resources:
