Desperate & Grateful for input

Thanks for reading-  Long story short I have been hooked on crack & a daily user for 6+ months.
How do I stop, what kind of side effects of withdrawal can I expect?

I feel I am toxic & I am scared!

Thank you!!!

[Free2agoodhome]

Welcome......

I tried it back in the day...but mostly I binged...so I'm no expert.

First explore options available....
Are you in a positon to go to formal treatment ?

more info needed

[Sonrissa]

Hi Need, and welcome! I agree, more info is needed! I do not have any experience with crack, and hopefully others who do will weigh in! I'm so glad you decided to seek help quitting! Please post more info about your circumstances! We will help you in any way we can!

[clean_in_ks]

Welcome to the forum!  I don't have much experience with cocaine, but there are some really good articles by people who do in the health pages on this site.  They are at the bottom on the r.h. side.  But here is a link for one that talks about the cravings and why they are different from some other drugs.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Cocaine--Craving--And-Relapse/show/353?cid=66
You can also put crack or cocaine in the search box at the top of the forum and it will take you to a lot of posts and journals, etc. of other addicts that are specific to cocaine.
Glad to have you posting and aboard~

[Teresa1717]

I use to Smoke cocaine years ago, and quite a bit of it. I didnt have w/d's like I did with opiates (just really tired, no appetite, and really irritable/moody) . BUt its more of a mental thing! Your mind goes nuts and wont stop thinking of getting your next fix! This lasted about a week for me and then I was able to start getting past it.

The biggest thing I can recommend is maybe do some type of rehab, either IP or OP. The reason I say this is because the psycholigical impact of long term use can be really tough and having counseling or other type of support is important!

Anyways, I wish you the best and youve made the right choice to stop!!

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  I'm glad you posted.  You'll get great support here!  The symptoms you can expect are like depression, no energy, irritability, wanting to just stay in bed or sleep a lot.  Things like that.  Basically every feeling cocaine gave you will be the opposite during the withdrawal of it.  It's that way with any drug.  I'm not sure there are any meds that treat cocaine WD, so getting help from a doctor won't do much good.  If you end up having lasting depression, beyond a month or so, then go talk to your doctor about an anti depressant or try something natural like St. John's Wort.  I would also go get some L Tyrosine.  That will help you with energy and motivation, which you will seriously lack the next few days.  If you like energy drinks, that would be good too.  Drink plenty of other fluids as well.  You should have a little more appetite off the drug than you did when you were on it, so eat small amounts throughout the day.  

Mainly just rest as much as you can and need to over the next few days.  And post to us when you feel like it!  There's usually somebody around! : ) You're doing the right thing......a GOOD thing.  Don't turn back now!

[LeaAnn807]

Oh, I forgot.  Something like NA will be necessary for you to do for support and for cravings and the horrible mental part that comes with coke addiction.  It plays with your mind, and if you're involved in a 12 step group, you will have people you can call when you're feeling weak!