Know the Symptoms and Treatment Options for a Coke Hangover
After the intense dopamine rush of a cocaine high starts to wear off, many experience a crash as the body’s chemistry returns to normal. Most call this a cocaine hangover or cocaine comedown.
The cocaine crash doesn’t create the same familiar hangover symptoms as alcohol; instead, it may lead to severe physical and mental symptoms that feel like depression or anxiety.
These comedown symptoms are a direct result of how cocaine impacts the brain’s reward system and the central nervous system.
The cocaine hangover is also a very vulnerable phase for additional cocaine use. As the cocaine wears off and cravings hit, using more cocaine starts to feel like a reasonable option.
The Ingrained Recovery team has learned that the cocaine comedown is a time that requires professional ongoing support.
If you use cocaine regularly, or you love someone who does, understanding how the body can recover safely after coming down from the initial high is important information. Recognizing that cocaine use requires self-care – and sometimes medical attention – can help overcome the fatigue of cocaine withdrawal and hangover.
What Does a Cocaine Crash Feel Like?
Some past clients have described their cocaine hangovers as physically exhausting and emotionally brutal. The brain fills with the neurotransmitter dopamine after drug use, giving intense feelings of pleasure or euphoria.
At the height of the cocaine high, you can feel accomplished and as if you could conquer the world. But as the dopamine levels reset to their normal levels, the high recedes and the cocaine comedown symptoms begin. It is this very cycle that leads to cocaine dependence.
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Common Cocaine Comedown Symptoms
During a cocaine comedown, you may feel the following common symptoms:
- Extreme fatigue
- Low mood or depressed
- Irritability, anxiety, restlessness
- Intense cravings for more cocaine
- Increased appetite
- Sleep disruptions
- Slower thinking
- Runny nose or nosebleeds (if snorting cocaine)
- Lack of motivation
- Body aches
- Chills
- General discomfort
- Suicidal thoughts or ideation (rare but dangerous)
Some also express feelings of guilt, paranoia, or emotional numbness. These feelings and other unpleasant symptoms can be very intense after a cocaine binge or with long-term use.
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How Long Does a Cocaine High Last?
The euphoric feeling of cocaine starts soon after use, but it depends on the type of drug use. Its high is relatively short-lived, and its effects fade shortly after use. It leads to a rebound effect when withdrawal and cravings begin, usually starting as the brain regains balance.
Trying to make the high last longer and to keep the euphoria-inducing stream of cocaine drip running down your nasal passages are other reasons why so many people binge on cocaine or add other substances.
Average Duration of a High after Cocaine Use
How long does a cocaine high last? This table shows how long cocaine usually takes to onset, peak, and for the cocaine crash to start:
| Cocaine Use Method | Onset of High | Peak High | Duration Before Cocaine Crash |
| Snorting powder | 3-5 min. | 15-30 min. | 30-60 min. |
| Smoking crack cocaine | Seconds | 5-10 min. | 10-20 min. |
| Injecting cocaine | Seconds | 5-15 min. | 15-30 min. |
| Oral ingestion | 10-30 min. | 30-60 min. | Up to 90 min. |
Several factors can influence how long the high and cocaine comedown lasts between individuals. It depends on their drug tolerance, metabolism, size, and general health conditions.
Professional Help for Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms vs. Treating Common Symptoms at Home
The approach to caring for comedown symptoms will differ, depending on whether the person plans to stop using cocaine for good or recover with the intent to use cocaine again.
To be clear, we always suggest professional help, which addresses all aspects of mental health and physical wellness in a supportive setting. But the reality is that some people are not ready to quit and will try to recover from the initial cocaine withdrawal symptoms at home.
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If you feel motivated to overcome cocaine addiction, please stop reading now and call the Ingrained Recovery admissions department now.
Our compassionate medical professionals can provide supportive care for your cocaine hangover and withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of making the call.
Managing a Cocaine Comedown at Home
At-home management of a coke hangover focuses on sleep, nutrition, and staying hydrated. It does not address the psychological symptoms or mental effects of cocaine use, nor does it serve as a permanent fix. Nevertheless, you can do a few things to feel a little better as the effects wear off.
Stay Hydrated with Water or Sports Drinks
Using followed by a cocaine comedown depletes your body of fluids. Drinking plenty of fluids is essential to replace the electrolytes you’ve lost.
Rehydrating during the first cocaine withdrawal symptoms helps your body recover. You may avoid some of the fatigue and headaches that come from the dehydration associated with coke use.
At a certain point of excess, even cocaine use can make you tired, as your depleted brain chemicals have little dopamine left to give, even when flooded with this powerful stimulant.
Get Enough Rest, Even if You Can't Sleep
Cocaine is a potent stimulant that can keep you awake for hours. Until the drug wears off completely, you may have increased blood pressure and an increased heart rate, making sleep feel almost impossible.
Even if you experience a day or so of restlessness, take some time to relax. Rest will help regulate your mood and gives your system time to adjust as the body attempts to return to its baseline.
Try Light Physical Activity or Deep Breathing Exercises
Simple, light movement, including walking or light stretching, can ease tension, especially if you feel agitated during the cocaine comedown. It can also promote increased energy levels when you start to feel sluggish. You can also try breathing exercises to calm the central nervous system.
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs
Reaching for another substance may initially feel like relief during a cocaine comedown. However, it is the exact opposite of what your body really needs.
The addition of alcohol and other substances to the body can exacerbate emotional lows and increase your risk for overdose or lead to other chemical dependencies.
Eat Light, Balanced Meals
One of the side effects of cocaine use is appetite suppression. The appetite usually comes back after use. Eat lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats for several days after the comedown to support brain function and stabilize mood.
Ending Drug Use at Ingrained Recovery
Are you ready to break the dangerous cycle of cocaine addiction? Then you must seek professional support from qualified, compassionate addiction specialists – like you’ll find at Ingrained Recovery.
True recovery means more than just managing the cocaine comedown. It requires understanding the driving forces behind the addiction – emotional, behavioral, or medical factors that drive use.
We offer evidence-based, holistic treatment plans and therapies to address the reasons behind the cocaine use. The following are some of the approaches we commonly use to support long-term healing:
- Inpatient or outpatient treatment options: We offer structured, supportive care during inpatient, and offer support in finding outpatient help according to each client’s needs. Choosing the right treatment modality allows people to find the perfect fit to suit their recovery goals.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): There’s no current FDA-approved MAT for cocaine. However, those who also abuse alcohol or opioids may benefit from medication-assisted treatment. Medications can help manage the rebound effect of cocaine, especially during initial withdrawal.
- Individual counseling: Working with a therapist provides a safe space to explore the emotional roots of cocaine abuse. Counseling is a key part of processing the mental health side effects of long-term stimulant use.
- Peer support groups: Group therapy and peer groups provide a place where clients can share experiences and reduce feelings of shame or isolation. The encouragement clients receive from peers can motivate continued progress and reduce anxiety.
- Behavioral therapies and life skills training: These therapies help clients gain tools to respond to cravings and cope with stress without using drugs. This step is essential in staying clean and sober post-treatment.
- Medical detox: The cocaine comedown triggers withdrawal symptoms, including intense psychological concerns. Medical detoxification is the safest place to monitor and stabilize mood, cravings, and mental health symptoms like anxiety or depression.
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Connect with Ingrained Today to Overcome Cocaine Abuse
Many want to end their cocaine addiction, but the rebound effect they experience during the cocaine comedown is often so powerful that they use their drug of choice to get relief from the withdrawal symptoms.
Our expert staff ensure that you feel safe and supported at every point of the recovery journey.
Call us today – we’ll provide you more than just a safe cocaine comedown; we’ll help you find a path to lasting sobriety and freedom from addiction.