One of the first questions that people ask about recovery from cocaine addiction is, "What is cocaine detox like?" It makes sense to have concerns about the cocaine detox process, because anyone who is addicted to cocaine has experienced some withdrawal symptoms. In fact, fears about detox and the desire to avoid withdrawal symptoms may be the primary reasons that some people are reluctant to seek treatment for cocaine addiction.

Cocaine detox is never going to be pleasant, but medical intervention can make it less uncomfortable. Understanding what happens throughout the cocaine detox process may ease your fears and give you the courage to enter treatment to free yourself from the chains of addiction. Here are the answers to the most common questions about cocaine detox

What is Cocaine Detox like?

Everyone's path to cocaine addiction is different, so the answer to what is cocaine detox like will depend on the particulars of your addiction. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, the strength of withdrawal symptoms you experience will depend on the severity of your addiction. Generally speaking, the longer you have been addicted to cocaine, the more intense your withdrawal symptoms will be.

People who inject or smoke cocaine will have a more difficult time that those who snort the drug. If you choose medically supervised cocaine detox, trained professionals can administer medications that will make withdrawal symptoms more bearable.

What Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms Will I Experience?

Cocaine is often mixed with different drugs, which come with their own set of withdrawal symptoms. NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, reports that the majority of cocaine addicts also abuse other drugs. If you are addicted to additional substances, you may experience additional withdrawal symptoms related to those drugs as you detox from cocaine. Common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

* Depression

* Irritability

* Extreme fatigue

* Nausea and vomiting

* Anxiety

* Insomnia

* Paranoia

* Intense craving for the drug

* Formication - some people may experience a crawling sensation that bugs are crawling under their skin, known as formication

What is the Cocaine Detox Process?

There are three stages to the codeine detox process. Muscle relaxants, sedatives, and anti-nausea medications may be used to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make them easier to bear. The stages of cocaine detox include:

* Early stage - Withdrawal symptoms may begin within hours of your last use. Symptoms will begin mildly but increase in severity as time passes.

* Peak withdrawal stage - This stage typically lasts 2 to 5 days. During this stage of the cocaine detox process, drug withdrawal symptoms will be severe.

* Post-acute withdrawal stage - During your last 3 to 5 days of cocaine detox, withdrawal symptoms begin tapering off as you adjust to your drug-free state. Emotional and mental cravings for cocaine remain and may seem stronger as physical symptoms fade away.

How Long Does Cocaine Detox Treatment Take?

Cocaine detox treatment takes anywhere from 3 days to more than a week. Physical symptoms of cocaine detox will typically subside within 7 days, although you may experience some mental and emotional symptoms such as intense cravings for longer. Antidepressants can help manage feelings of depression that can linger after severe withdrawal.