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Cocaine Detox in Las Vegas with Medical Support

Safe withdrawal from cocaine with psychiatric monitoring for depression, cravings management, and sleep restoration. Our Nevada physicians provide compassionate care during stimulant detox.

Cocaine Withdrawal & Detox Timeline

Cocaine detox is primarily psychological rather than physical. The "crash" phase causes severe depression, exhaustion, and intense cravings. At Better Choice Treatment Center in Las Vegas, we provide psychiatric support and medications to manage symptoms safely.

Unlike opioids or alcohol, cocaine withdrawal rarely causes dangerous physical symptoms. However, the psychological effects are so severe that they drive most people back to using within days without professional support. The extreme depression, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), and exhaustion make it nearly impossible to quit on willpower alone. Our Las Vegas cocaine detox program provides psychiatric care, medications for depression and sleep, and 24/7 monitoring during the critical crash phase.

Understanding Cocaine Addiction & The Crash

Cocaine floods the brain with dopamine—the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and motivation. With chronic use, the brain becomes dependent on cocaine to produce dopamine and eventually stops making it naturally. When cocaine use stops abruptly, dopamine levels plummet to near zero. This creates a state of profound depression where nothing feels good, you have no energy or motivation, and suicide risk is extremely high.

Suicide Risk During Cocaine Withdrawal

The depression during cocaine withdrawal is not like feeling sad—it's a neurochemical crisis. Dopamine depletion creates a state where life feels meaningless, suicide seems logical, and the brain screams that using cocaine is the only solution. Studies show that suicide ideation occurs in 30-40% of people during cocaine withdrawal, and completed suicides are significantly higher in the first weeks after stopping.

This is why psychiatric monitoring during cocaine detox is essential. Our staff assesses for suicidal thoughts multiple times daily, prescribes antidepressants when needed, and provides immediate intervention if safety concerns arise. We've saved countless lives by catching warning signs early during detox.

How Cocaine Changes Brain Chemistry:

  • Blocks dopamine reuptake, causing massive dopamine buildup in synapses
  • Brain downregulates dopamine receptors to compensate for excess dopamine
  • Natural dopamine production shuts down—brain relies on cocaine instead
  • Reward system becomes hijacked—only cocaine produces pleasure
  • When cocaine stops, dopamine levels crash to near zero
  • Takes weeks to months for brain chemistry to normalize

Why Cocaine Is So Addictive:

  • Short duration of action (30-90 minutes) requires frequent redosing
  • Intense euphoria creates powerful psychological memories
  • Crash after use feels so bad that using again seems necessary
  • Dopamine depletion makes everything except cocaine feel pointless
  • Cravings triggered by stress, people, places associated with use
  • High relapse rate (70-90%) without comprehensive treatment

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms We Treat

Severe Depression

Profound sadness, hopelessness, feeling like life isn't worth living. This is dopamine depletion, not weakness. Antidepressants and psychiatric care are often necessary.

Extreme Fatigue

Overwhelming exhaustion, sleeping 12-18 hours per day, no energy to do anything. This is the body attempting to heal from stimulant abuse.

Anhedonia

Complete inability to feel pleasure from anything—food, music, activities you once loved. Brain's reward system is temporarily broken.

Intense Cravings

Overwhelming urge to use cocaine. Brain believes using is the only way to feel normal again. Cravings can last months without treatment.

Irritability & Agitation

Short temper, easily frustrated, emotional volatility. Difficulty tolerating normal daily stressors without cocaine.

Increased Appetite

Cocaine suppresses appetite. When stopping, hunger returns intensely. Weight gain is common but healthy—body is recovering.

Sleep Disturbances

Sleeping too much or insomnia, vivid nightmares, disrupted sleep cycles. Sleep medications help normalize rest during recovery.

Cognitive Impairment

Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, slowed thinking. Cocaine damages prefrontal cortex. Cognition improves with abstinence.

Psychomotor Slowing

Moving slowly, sluggish reactions, feeling like you're moving through mud. Opposite of cocaine's stimulation.

Days 1-3: The Crash

Initial Withdrawal

Extreme fatigue, depression begins, increased appetite, intense sleep (hypersomnia). This is when suicide risk is highest. 24/7 psychiatric monitoring essential. Antidepressants may be started.

Days 4-7: Acute Phase

Peak Psychological Symptoms

Irritability peaks, cravings intensify, anhedonia severe (nothing feels good), difficulty concentrating, mood swings. This is the most dangerous relapse period. Individual therapy begins focusing on coping skills.

Week 2+: Stabilization

Gradual Improvement

Mood slowly improves, energy returns, cravings reduce in intensity but still present. Sleep normalizes. Antidepressants take effect. Ready for transition to residential rehab where long-term treatment addresses psychological addiction.

Cocaine Detox Treatment at Better Choice

Our evidence-based cocaine detox protocol combines psychiatric care, medications, and therapeutic support to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and increase the likelihood of completing detox successfully.

24/7 Psychiatric Monitoring

Daily assessments for depression severity and suicide risk. Psychiatric nurse practitioners and physicians available around the clock. Immediate intervention if safety concerns arise.

  • • Suicide risk assessments multiple times daily
  • • One-on-one safety monitoring when needed
  • • Crisis intervention training
  • • Psychiatric medication adjustments as needed

Antidepressant Medications

SSRIs, SNRIs, or other antidepressants to address dopamine depletion and severe depression. Started early in detox to reduce suicide risk and improve mood during the crash phase.

  • • Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro for depression
  • • Wellbutrin (helps dopamine recovery)
  • • Remeron for sleep and appetite
  • • Anti-anxiety medications as needed

Sleep Medications

Sleep disturbances are universal during cocaine withdrawal. Non-addictive sleep aids help normalize rest, which is critical for brain healing and mood stabilization.

  • • Trazodone (sedating antidepressant)
  • • Gabapentin (calming, non-addictive)
  • • Melatonin and natural sleep aids
  • • Sleep hygiene education

Individual Therapy

Therapy begins during detox once acute symptoms stabilize. Focus on understanding triggers, developing coping strategies, and preparing for comprehensive rehab.

  • • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • • Trigger identification
  • • Coping skills for cravings
  • • Motivation enhancement

Medical Monitoring

While cocaine withdrawal isn't physically dangerous like alcohol or benzodiazepines, we monitor cardiovascular health and address any medical complications from cocaine use.

  • • Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring
  • • EKG if cardiovascular concerns
  • • Lab work to assess organ function
  • • Treatment for cocaine-related damage

Nutrition & Vitamins

Cocaine use depletes nutrients and suppresses appetite. Nutritious meals and vitamin supplementation support brain healing and physical recovery.

  • • High-protein meals to support neurotransmitter production
  • • B-vitamin complex for neurological health
  • • Omega-3 fatty acids for brain repair
  • • Hydration and electrolyte balance

Typical Cocaine Detox Duration: 7-14 days depending on severity of use and psychiatric stability. Some patients feel significantly better within one week with medication support, while others need extended observation.

Success Rate: 75-85% of patients complete cocaine detox successfully when psychiatric medications and 24/7 monitoring are provided, compared to less than 20% success rate when attempting to quit alone.

Why Detox Alone Isn't Enough for Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine detox addresses only the acute withdrawal phase. The real challenge is the months and years that follow, when psychological cravings persist, triggers are everywhere, and life stressors make relapse tempting. Without comprehensive rehabilitation after detox, relapse rates exceed 90% within the first year.

What Causes Cocaine Relapse After Detox:

  • Return to same environment and triggers
  • No coping skills for stress or cravings
  • Underlying mental health issues untreated
  • Social isolation and lack of support
  • Brain chemistry still healing (takes months)

How Rehab After Detox Prevents Relapse:

  • 60-90 day residential treatment provides time for brain healing
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy changes thought patterns
  • Relapse prevention training and trigger management
  • Dual diagnosis treatment for depression/anxiety/PTSD
  • Building sober support network and accountability

Start cocaine detox today with expert psychiatric care.

Our Las Vegas cocaine detox program provides 24/7 monitoring, antidepressant medications, and comprehensive support during the critical crash phase. Don't face withdrawal alone.

(888) 555-1234

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Cocaine Detox FAQ