Question:
I have been using cocaine for several months now. I am not a heavy user
and rarely do it more than once a week. I don't even have my own
dealer, it's usually done at a friend's house or at parties. My normal
dosage is anywhere from 1-4 lines, but rarely more because it just
makes me too "jittery" and makes me want to go into fetal position. ;)
I don't crave it when I'm sober, but I do have urges if I have been
drinking alcohol heavily.
I've recently resolved to stop using cocaine for good. It just seems to
be very very hard on my body and mind. Thus, I'm also cutting back on
my alcohol intake so I'm not as tempted.
I have had some problems recently and was wondering which of these are
related to cocaine use and withdrawal. Here are some of my symptoms:
- Insomnia (I cannot go to bed "early" like I used to, I tend to lay in
bed and just don't fall asleep until I've been awake for at least 14-15
hours since my last rest.)
- Shakes & Muscle Tremors/Spasms (My body, particularly my arms and
legs, often feels shaky and some of my muscles will spasm slightly
especially when they are being used to lift something or weight is
exerted on them. Sometimes my bones/body just gets a overall "jittery"
or tremor-like sensation, usually when I'm trying to fall asleep.)
- Anxiety/Panic (I seem to be more stressed out lately and my mind goes
into a state of panic combined with some of the shakes.. wondering what
might be wrong with me, feeling ill and fatigued)
- Fatigue (When I wake up, my whole body feels heavier than normal. I
don't feel clear like I had good sleep. I have more energy from the
sleep, but don't feel "fresh" until I have a shower, and even after
that I sometimes feel heavy headed and groggy.)
Are the above symptoms normal for such "occasional" (weekly) use of
cocaine? I was surprised how hard it has hit my system and affected my
well being. I think I'm much more irritable and prone to mood swings.
Now for the rehab questions. I am very much into organic whole
foods/nutrients and natural supplements. I have a superfood orange
juice shake every morning and also drink noni juice once or twice a
day.
1) I'm wondering, what herbs/foods/nutrients/liquids should I be having
more of to alleviate the cocaine withdrawal/abuse symptoms? I've been
drinking a lot more water lately and have stayed away from sugars in my
diet. I try to eat a lot of raw whole foods such as fruits and salads.
2) Should I be cautious before doing any aerobic or cardio-intensive
exercise? I know I need to exercise more, but I'm concerned about the
effects of cocaine on my heart. I don't want to overdue it, but I do
want to get my cardiovascular system back up to par and strengthen my
muscles to prevent spasms/tremors.
I guess I'm just looking for some specific "cocaine rehab tips" from
those that have gone through this before and had good results.
I'm confident I have the will power not to touch cocaine anymore, but
still be able to party with my friends occasionally. I've instructed my
cocaine-using friends to keep me away from it and not offer me any if
they choose to use it. They are a laid back bunch, so they respect my
choice not to ever touch coke again.
Answer:
The only "withdrawal like" effect I have had from stopping cocaine
after heavy use (and 1-4 lines is not heavy use) is a Parkinson's like
tremor and a sensation that you are falling when lying down or waking
up. This quickly goes away in a matter of days. Other drugs which
deplete dopamine reserves also cause this sensation, including Sinemet
(L-DOPA and Carbidopa) which is used for Parkinson''s Disease itself
because it takes your body time to replenish the dopamine reserve.
Although, some of your symptoms may be from your discontinuation of
cocaine, the other symptoms along side it make me feel that they are
psychosomatic. Regardless, they should go away within a few days even
if they are real
