Tag: crack withdrawal

If you’ve decided to stop taking crack and wonder what’s the first step, you’ve found the right place. This decision could be the most important once you will ever make. Learn what exactly happens when you stop using crack, what to expect and the best way to quit. At the end, we invite you to ask additional questions about crack detox treatments. In fact, we try to respond to all legitimate questions personally and promptly.

Can I just stop taking crack?

It depends.

If you’ve been using crack for more than a month or so, it’s pretty hard to just stop taking it. You’ll need to be prepared for the emergence of withdrawal symptoms once you quit or lower your dose. This is because you’ve developed a physical dependence to crack, meaning that your body has adjusted to the presence of the drug and has modified the normal production of neurotransmitters. If you just stop taking it, your body triggers an abrupt chemical change manifesting a number of symptoms which can be unbearable.

If you are unsure whether your body has developed dependence on crack cocaine, or not, think of whether you have increased your dose lately to feel the effects of cocaine. If the answer is positive, that means you have developed tolerance to the drug which can occur at the same time as dependence. In these cases, a way to stop using may be to gradually decrease dosing since the body will feel the absence in a more subtle way and manifest more mild symptoms. Other people may benefit from a cold turkey withdrawal from crack.

What happens when you stop taking crack?

Once you stop taking crack, you go through a period of withdrawal. During this time, your central nervous system reacts to the absence of cocaine by manifesting a number of symptoms of “extreme slow down” and depression. Crack alters the brain chemistry in such a way that it modifies the normal production of neurotransmitters to release much more dopamine than normal. This is what causes the high. On the flip side, quitting crack can make you feel the low, and many people have a hard time feeling pleasure as a result of the decreased dopamine levels.

Quitting crack side effects

Cessation of crack is accompanied with a number of predictable side effects. An individual quitting crack may experience any or all of the following:

• aggression
• anxiety
• craving for the drug
• depression
• fatigue
• mental disturbances
• mood swings
• nausea
• pains
• restlessness
• sleep disturbances
• suicidal feelings

The intensity and the number of the side effects a person will experience will depend a great deal on their level of dependence. It is best to stay under medical surveillance during this stage, which can start few hours after cessation and usually peaks around Day 3 and can last for around a week, or so.

Stop taking crack suddenly

It is not recommended to suddenly stop taking crack without medical supervision, as this can increase the chances of relapse. Due to its highly addictive properties, expect that your body will not react well to this shock and the sudden stopping can provoke severe cravings and intense withdrawal symptoms. What’s recommended instead is to seek medical help, including psychotherapy and emotional support, during withdrawal. Nonaddictive medication may be necessary to treat underlying conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders. So, getting the help you need can lead to increased chances for staying clean.

Stop taking crack cold turkey

Quitting crack cold turkey means quitting abruptly and provoking the withdrawal symptoms as soon as possible. While this is possible, it is not what doctors may recommend, since it’s pretty tormenting to endure. It can be both psychologically and physically traumatic so it is better to consult a medical professional about the efficacy of stopping crack cold turkey in your particular case, especially if you’ve been using crack for a while now.

How do I stop taking crack?

To stop taking crack, you should start by consulting a medical professional: a doctor, a psychiatrist, or psychologist. Seek help from people who have experience in addiction medicine. The first things to do is to bring the central nervous system back into balance. This stage of the recovery is also known as acute detox and it’s the most critical one since symptoms of withdrawal are most intense during this period. It’s highly recommended to seek medical assistance to have your symptoms monitored, or seek medical advice if you want to stay at home while your body gets rid of the toxins. In such a case, make sure your place is devoid of abusive substances and you have moral support from close ones.

Next may follow a period of “protracted” or “post-acute” withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). During this time, you may have trouble feeling pleasure, trouble with sleep, or with mood disorders. PAWS can persist for 6-12 months (or longer) after you quit crack…so seek the appropriate help for symptoms as you experience them.

Finally, the best way to treat crack addiction is by addressing the psychological and emotional issues that led you to crack. Therapy which addresses past trauma, ways of thinking, or beliefs about yourself can be incredibly helpful. You can seek individual therapy, group therapy, or family therapy for this. You can also look into support groups such as 12-step meetings, SMART Recovery, or Rational Recovery in order to benefit from peer support. The thing is: getting crack out of your system is just the beginning. You need to change the way you “do life” in order to stay clean after the detox.

How to stop taking crack safely

1. The safest way to stop taking crack is under medical surveillance.
2. It’s considered the safest way, because symptomatic treatments can help you to decrease the chances of relapse. The emotional support can also help increases your chances of success.Every time you want to quit, consult a medical professional before commencing and follow their suggestions.

How to stop taking crack questions

Do you have additional questions about stopping crack? Feel free to leave them in the comments section below and we will try to answer you personally and promptly.

Reference Sources: NCBI: Outpatient treatment of ‘crack’ cocaine smoking

NCBI: Cocaine and Psychiatric Symptoms

NCBI: Among long-term crack smokers, who avoids and who succumbs to cocaine addiction?

U.S. Government Accountability Office: The crack cocaine epidemic: Health consequences and treatment

View the original article at addictionblog.org

Are you or a loved one using crack? Do you wonder how to quit? You’re in the right place.

To begin, you’ll need to remove cocaine from your body. But how long does crack detox typically last? What happens during the process? For more info on the duration and timeline of crack rehab and detox, what is the best crack cocaine addiction treatment program for you, and what you can expect in our A-Z guide about Crack Addiction Treatment Programs and Help.

At the end, we invite your questions and comments about treatments for crack detox. We try to respond to all legitimate questions with a personal and prompt reply.

Crack detox duration and length

The duration of time it takes to withdraw from crack and the intensity of symptoms varies from person to person. Generally, the first withdrawal symptoms appear within couple of hours after the last dose and persist for few days, peaking about 72 hours after last dose. Following the first week or two after stopping, the brain struggles to regain normalcy and produces intense cravings. And it is common for protracted – or post-acute – withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) to persist for months after initial detox.

The total time you spend during acute crack detox will depend on a number of factors including:

• amount of use
• duration (over time) of use
• frequency of use
• level of cocaine dependency
• your general health

Another determining factor is how psychologically ready you are to quit using. The first few weeks of crack detox ar, perhaps, the most critical point for slipping into relapse due to intense cravings. However, while detoxing is not easy, it is a necessary part of the whole recovery process. Remember, detox is only a beginning and will not resolve an addiction to crack; psychological and behavioral treatments are necessary.

Crack detox timeline and schedule

Once a person stops using crack there are predictable patterns that characterize the post-cessation period:

0-72 hours

The period between the first hours to 3-4 days after the last dose is known as the “crash” period and is characterized by the presence of symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, sleepiness and intense cravings. The individual may also feel depressed and have suicidal thoughts, so being surrounded by medical professionals and/or close friends and family is highly recommended.

Weeks 1-2

Compulsive behavior persists in the first two weeks after cessation, but decreases as days pass by. During this period, the brain is struggling to adjust to the absence of cocaine and severe cravings can be triggered by thoughts, behaviors, or even smells. Individuals may manifest hostile and impulsive behavior and feel irritated and moody. They could also have trouble concentrating, increased appetite and experience vivid dreams.

Weeks 3-4

This phase is known as the honeymoon phase. Cocaine cravings gradually reduce and mood improves. Individuals feel energetic, confident and full of optimism. They want to go back to normal life feeling as if they have kicked the habit. However, it has been estimated that two-thirds of relapse in drug abuse cases takes place within 3 months post-treatment. Further, the treatment of protracted withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) should not be disregarded as this is another critical point when relapse is very likely to occur. For these reasons, ongoing psychological treatment is imperative after acute detox occurs.

How long to detox from crack?

It can take months to fully detox from crack and manage cravings for cocaine. How long crack withdrawal can last is highly individual. Crack damages brain functions and it may take three to six months after acute detox is finished for the brain to restore normal functioning. The symptoms that occur in the phase are known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) and in most cases these decrease over time. The most common symptoms of PAWS usually include:

• anxiety
• depression
• fatigue
• insomnia

Further, it is important to understand that each person’s detox will be different. The duration of crack detox will depend a great deal on the level of a dependency and a person’s individual needs. While the physical withdrawal symptoms from crack detox are most severe within the first week after the last use and reduce with each passing day, the psychological withdrawal symptoms may persist for weeks and even months after cessation.

Crack detox scheduling questions

Still have questions about crack detox or scheduling? Feel free to share your questions in the comments section below. We will try to get back to you with a personalized and prompt reply.

Reference Sources: NCBI: Cocaine and Psychiatric Symptoms

NIDA: Monographs Cocaine Treatment: Research and Clinical Perspectives

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VRIS: Substance Use Disorders

View the original article at addictionblog.org