Definition of Cocaine withdrawal:

Cocaine withdrawal occurs when a heavy cocaine user cuts down or quits taking the drug.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cocaine produces a sense of extreme joy by causing the brain to release higher than normal amounts of some biochemicals. However, cocaine's effects on the body can be very serious or even deadly.

When cocaine use is stopped or when a binge ends, a crash follows almost immediately. This crash is accompanied by a strong craving for more cocaine. Additional symptoms include fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, and sometimes agitation or extreme suspicion.

Cocaine withdrawal often has no visible physical symptoms like the vomiting and shaking that accompanies the withdrawal from heroin or alcohol.

In the past, people underestimated the addictive properties of cocaine. However, cocaine is addictive when addiction is defined as a desire for more of the drug, despite negative consequences.

The level of craving, lack of pleasure, and depression produced by cocaine withdrawal rivals or exceeds that felt with other withdrawal symptoms.

See also:

• Drug abuse
• Drug abuse and dependence
• Stroke secondary to cocaine