Cocaine Withdrawal & Detox

When a person uses cocaine regularly, they can become physically dependent on the drug, with the body feeling ill without it. Cocaine withdrawal occurs when someone who has been using the drug cuts down on their use or stops taking it. 

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

Cocaine produces an extreme mood elevation by causing the brain to release higher  amounts of chemicals than usual. However, cocaine’s effects on other parts of the body can be severe and even deadly. When a person stops using cocaine, a “crash” follows almost right away. Many experience strong cravings for more cocaine during the cocaine detox, in addition to the following symptoms:

• Agitation
• Irritability
• Depression
• Sleeping more than usual
• Increased appetite
• Aching muscles

Cocaine detox usually doesn’t have visible physical symptoms, such as the vomiting and shaking that accompany withdrawal from other substances like heroin or alcohol.

Co-occurring mental health disorders may also affect the withdrawal process. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and personality disorders can make the detox process more complicated.

Cocaine Detox Timeline

The timeline for cocaine withdrawal symptoms varies depending on several factors:

• The person’s height and weight
• The length of cocaine use
• The amount of cocaine used
• How often cocaine was used
• Presence of a co-occurring mental disorder
• The person’s environment

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can last for one to two weeks. Although the specific timeline will vary based on the person, these are the expected withdrawal symptoms by the hour:

• Within the first few hours of the last dose: A person may start to “crash” and show withdrawal symptoms. 
• Within the first week: Withdrawal symptoms peak during this time. Cravings also occur during this timeframe, making it difficult to avoid relapse without support. 
• Within the first 1–2 weeks: Symptoms will begin to diminish. People who have used cocaine for years may continue to experience lingering withdrawal symptoms for weeks.
• Within the first month: Protracted withdrawal symptoms like improved emotional state will begin to improve, but impulse control may continue to be a problem. 
• Within the first 1–2 months: Lethargy, anxiety, erratic sleep and strong cravings may continue. 

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

The length of time that cocaine stays in your system depends on the way you consumed the drug. If you snort the drug, it lasts longer in your system than if you ingest or inject it. Cocaine’s half-life, or the length of time it takes for your body to remove half a dose of cocaine from your system, ranges from 0.7–1.5 hours. 

However, cocaine also contains breakdown products like benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester, which have half-lives ranging from 3.5–8 hours.

Because it generally takes five half-lives to totally remove a drug from your body, cocaine itself may be out of your system within eight hours, while its breakdown products may remain in your system for up to two days. During this 2-day period, cocaine can show up in urine tests and saliva tests. The drug may also show up in hair tests for up to 90 days.