Cracked by Crack: the Side Effects of Cocaine Withdrawal and Abuse

Pure cocaine, along with the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” known as “crack,” is among the most widely abused substances in the world today. The pure cocaine in powder form is usually mistaken as fine sugar or baking soda. The street variant called crack is diluted and mixed with baking soda, allowing the street pushers to reap more profits. People who become addicted to both cocaine and “crack” are considered to be among the worst addicts that can be found in a rehab clinic mainly because of the intense physical and mental health damage that prolonged use can lead to. There is an extensive list of negative effects associated with long-term use of “crack.” Withdrawal from crack addiction is also very difficult in physiological and psychological terms.

Nasal passages, which are the primary pathways by which cocaine gets into an addict’s body, can also suffer severe damage due to prolonged abuse. However, the damage tends to manifest only after the drug has been removed and withdrawal has occurred. Among the possible side effects of the damage are runny noses, nasal congestion, and nose bleeding. These side effects are relatively minor and can easily be treated by using the appropriate medications and having good environment, especially at home. During cocaine withdrawal, nasal problems are likely going to be the least of a recovering addict’s worries.

Panic attacks similar to those developed by people with panic disorders are not uncommon to both addicts and recovering users. This is more pronounced once a person undergoes withdrawal because there is no longer the psychologically “stabilizing” effect of the drug. Also, people undergoing withdrawal have become so used to having “crack” on hand that they are almost mentally incapacitated by being deprived of it. Insomnia is also a recognized side effect of being forcibly withdrawn from cocaine abuse. However, insomnia encountered during withdrawal has a shorter range of effect compared with regular cases of insomnia. Mild headaches and occasional periods of excessive fear and anxiety are also possible symptoms of prolonged abuse, though they are not considered common.

Muscle spasms are usually associated with the more violent cases of withdrawal. This is particularly common in those cases where the user has developed a dependency on the cocaine being in the system, such that the mind no longer believes the body can function without it. Muscle spasms are usually a minor indication of a worsening problem in cases such as this, since people who develop them tend to suffer more physically violent symptoms of drug withdrawal. These problems generally occur in the earlier stages of withdrawal, as the shock to the body being cut off from “crack” is still fresh. As the withdrawal sets in and the cleansing process is underway, the body slowly adjusts to a normal state and the likelihood of muscle spasms and convulsions decreases considerably.

Chronic pain in the chest and coughing have also been noted as possible symptoms. Some withdrawal patients report that the coughing can sometimes be accompanied by severe chest pains. Phlegm coughed up by these patients tend to be colored black and are generally not mixed with blood unless the patient has another respiratory condition. Coughing and phlegm of this sort also manifests in people that abuse marijuana or nicotine. This is generally alleviated by any number of over-the-counter cough medications or increased intake of water and other fluids.

Can marijuana withdrawal make someone think they have schizophrenia?

I recently quit smoking marijuana and have been going through marijuana withdrawal. Is it possible that the withdrawal could cause me to think that i have mental problems such as schizophrenia?

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Marijuana Detoxification – Signs of Withdrawal from Marijuana

 

 

nd heavy pot smokers go through withdrawal when they first quit weed. The detox period tends to last between 10 days to a month, and is worst in the beginning. Quitting weed sometimes produces physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.  The most common symptoms are discussed in detail below. Moodiness and Nervousness! Anxiety is a big obstacle to get over in the first weeks of stopping. The anxiety that you feel during quitting is usually small relative to a full blown anxiety attack – but it is constant! You need to be prepared to deal with the emotional and mental state you will be in for the first couple of weeks when you quit smoking. I have searched through sofa pillows,and the trash, just to find a roach or a little nugget to smoke. I describe it as missing something, and needing to get back to a high state so that you can be relaxed. You may notice that you are hold a lot of tension and breathe poorly in the first week. Keeping yourself busy will help some, but it won’t make this feeling go away.  Keep reading to learn more about  withdrawal from marijuana. Inability to Sleep and Racing Thoughts Insomnia is a big deal in the first couple days of not smoking cannabis. There have been times where I have not slept for a couple of days. This goes away.

 If smoking pot makes you relaxed and tired, quitting can make you anxious and your mind lose focus.  It can take a while for your sleeping patterns to get back to normal. Generally within a month you will have more normal sleep patterns and get a full nights sleep. It is important to keep a regular sleep / wake schedule when going through marijuana withdrawal. Crazy Dreams and Nightmares As any smoker knows, cannabis intereres with your dreams and keeps you from dreaming or makes you forget them. When you give your body a break from marijuana, the dreams come back – and sometimes with a vengeance. If you haven’t dreamed in a long time, this aspect of marijuana withdrawal is very peculiar. Memories from years ago may resurface in dream form. I remember having a dream of classmates from high school that I hadn’t seen in over 10 years! Nightmares are common when you go through marijuana withdrawal. These can be vivid and involve people and things you know. I have had several dreams where I thought the world was about to end and I have woken up in a sweat before. Some people dream about marijuana, and smoke smoke in their dreams. This is part of the detox process and entirely normal. Loss of Appetite One of the most common symptoms of marijuana withdrawal is a lack of appetite. This usually lasts for 3 to 4 days after the last time you smoke.

You can almost think of it as the opposite of the munchies. Take Out doesn’t taste as good without smoking pot! It is normal if your appetite shrinks, or that you aren’t hungry for a couple days. You may even lose some weight when you go through cannabis withdrawal. The lack of hunger can be a part of a more general feeling of being sick that has been described as low-level flu like symptoms. Very few people get nausea or diarrhea, but it can happen. When I quit smoking weed, my diet improved. I have experienced the loss of appetite, and even the runs during the first week of quitting. The Sweats You may experience this after not smoking weed for a few days. Personally, I believe this to be caused by the stress of adaptation to life without weed. I do know that after smoking (succumbing to temptation) the sweats dissapear immediately. One tip for dealing with this, is to think of it as cleansing and that your body is boiling out the THC.  Your are speeding up your recovery by sweating it out! Are you tired of being a prisoner to weed? Have you tried and failed to quit before? Do you want to avoid withdrawal when you stop? Do you want learn how to quit smoking pot, go to <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Quit-Marijuana?—The-Effects-of-Marijuana-on-the-Mind&id=1770027″>stop smoking pot</a> } and learn to kick the habit for good!

Many regular and heavy pot smokers go through withdrawal when they first quit weed. The detox period tends to last between 10 days to a month, and is worst in the beginning. Quitting weed sometimes produces physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.  The most common symptoms are discussed in detail below.

 

Loss of Appetite

One of the most common symptoms of marijuana withdrawal is a lack of appetite. This usually lasts for 3 to 4 days after the last time you smoke. You can almost think of it as the opposite of the munchies. Take Out doesn’t taste as good without smoking pot!

It is normal if your appetite shrinks, or that you aren’t hungry for a couple days. You may even lose some weight when you go through cannabis withdrawal. The lack of hunger can be a part of a more general feeling of being sick that has been described as low-level flu like symptoms. Very few people get nausea or diarrhea, but it can happen.

When I quit smoking weed, my diet improved. I have experienced the loss of appetite, and even the runs during the first week of quitting.

Moodiness and Nervousness!

Anxiety is a big obstacle to get over in the first weeks of stopping. The anxiety that you feel during quitting is usually small relative to a full blown anxiety attack – but it is constant! You need to be prepared to deal with the emotional and mental state you will be in for the first couple of weeks when you quit smoking. I have searched through sofa pillows,and the trash, just to find a roach or a little nugget to smoke. I describe it as missing something, and needing to get back to a high state so that you can be relaxed. You may notice that you are hold a lot of tension and breathe poorly in the first week. Keeping yourself busy will help some, but it won’t make this feeling go away.  Keep reading to learn more about  withdrawal from marijuana.

 

Crazy Dreams and Nightmares

As any smoker knows, cannabis intereres with your dreams and keeps you from dreaming or makes you forget them. When you give your body a break from marijuana, the dreams come back – and sometimes with a vengeance. If you haven’t dreamed in a long time, this aspect of marijuana withdrawal is very peculiar. Memories from years ago may resurface in dream form. I remember having a dream of classmates from high school that I hadn’t seen in over 10 years!

 

Nightmares are common when you go through marijuana withdrawal. These can be vivid and involve people and things you know. I have had several dreams where I thought the world was about to end and I have woken up in a sweat before.  Some people dream about marijuana, and smoke smoke in their dreams. This is part of the detox process and entirely normal.

Inability to Sleep and Racing Thoughts

Insomnia is a big deal in the first couple days of not smoking cannabis. There have been times where I have not slept for a couple of days. This goes away. If smoking pot makes you relaxed and tired, quitting can make you anxious and your mind lose focus.  It can take a while for your sleeping patterns to get back to normal. Generally within a month you will have more normal sleep patterns and get a full nights sleep. It is important to keep a regular sleep / wake schedule when going through marijuana withdrawal.

The Sweats

You may experience this after not smoking weed for a few days. Personally, I believe this to be caused by the stress of adaptation to life without weed. I do know that after smoking (succumbing to temptation) the sweats dissapear immediately. One tip for dealing with this, is to think of it as cleansing and that your body is boiling out the THC.  Your are speeding up your recovery by sweating it out!

 

 

Marijuana withdrawal!! Help!?

I just quit smoking weed (Im 20) for health reasons. But I cant sleep or do anything socially because of it. I feel like a different person without it and dont know any social activities that I can do without it.

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Lightheaded or marijuana withdrawal ? HELP PLEASE !?

okay my first time smoking was 4/20. weird huh. yeah the day it happened i was very paranoid i woke up everyone in the houes to bring to the hospital. but all they did was tell me to calm down. yeah i did. then slept through it. the next day i went to a family party. then startred feeling it again around 3pm in the afternoon. so i ask my cousin to bring me in hjs room so i can sleep more. os i did. the next couple of weeks. i felt pretty good. but my problem the beginnning of this week i started to feel weird. at my basketball games i started to feel like im high again. but its different. the only the thing is wrong is that when people talk to me. i hear it late and the sound fades away in my ear. What do i do ? PLEASE HELP.
Okay, my FIRST TIME smoking was 4/20. Weird huh? Yeah, The day it happened I was very paranoid I woke up everyone in the houes to bring to the hospital. But all they did was tell me to calm down. Yeah i did. Then slept through it. the next day i went to a family party. then startred feeling it again around 3pm in the afternoon. so i ask my cousin to bring me in hjs room so i can sleep more. os i did. the 2 couple of weeks. i felt pretty good. but my problem the beginnning of this week i started to feel weird. at my basketball games i started to feel like im high again. but its different. the only the thing is wrong is that when people talk to me, I hear it late and the sound fades away in my ear. What do i do ?
Alot of people say that i need more sleep. And one thing is that i yawn alot. still sounds strange.

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helpful hints on easing marijuana withdrawal symptoms?

I am a habitual marijuana user and have finally decided to quit. My smoking instrument of choice happens to be the gravity bong, which I have been using multiple times daily for the past two years. My dependency is starting to get out of hand. It will be hard, but i know i can do it (with a little help).

The symptoms I’m dealing with include anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, loss of appetite, irritability, headaches and an out of control craving to smoke.

I’m in relatively good health. I exercise and hit the sauna daily, eat well-balanced meals and remember to take my vitamins…even so, I’m completely out of my wits trying and have been trying to overcome this for a while, so any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who answer

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Question about marijuana withdrawal and klonopin?

I have been smoking pot almost everyday for about 6 years, I decided to quit and now it feels like I cannot breath like I used to. The doctors seem to think that even though I did bad on the breathing tests it is due to anxiety. I am also on klonopin 2mgs for the last two years but I am looking to ween myself off of them once I have fully come off the weed. I am also starting to take 20mg of prozac. So please, do you have any advice? and do you think my trouble breathing and trouble swallowing is due to detoxing from marijuana?

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Marijuana withdrawal symptoms help!?

Hello everyone. My friend has decided to quit marijuana after a looong time of usage. I want to help him but he asks me to leave him alone. I can hear him hitting doors at the other room and when I went to check he had locked himself in the closed. What should I do? I really want to help. Only serious answers please, this is a crucial situation
there’s no other drugs, he’s just depressed at the moment, I know that for certain
So murray you’re saying that he should not quit cold turkey? but I’m confuzed because nothing like this happened to me when I quit

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Is there marijuana withdrawal? …?

I just quit smoking it, but the last time I smoked was last night, so is there any withdrawal that I will have to deal with?

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Is it possible to have some withdrawal symptoms from any addiction, like marijuana and gambling?

I heard that any addiction can cause the brain to release chemicals like dopamine and endorphins, so can going cold turkey cause mild withdrawals like strange dreams, insomnia, restlessness.. etc

 

Marijuana Withdrawal, Marijuana withdrawal treatment, Marijuana Withdrawal help

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