Why Does Cocaine Make Me Tired?

What Do Atypical Reactions to Cocaine and Crack Mean?

Cocaine use is well-documented to have stimulant effects on the body. But here’s a lesser-known paradox – it makes some people feel tired or fall asleep after using. If you are among those who cocaine makes tired and sleepy, you may even ask yourself: Why does cocaine make me tired?

Changes Healing Center is a Joint Commission-accredited addiction treatment center. Using evidence-based practices, we have provided effective cocaine addiction treatment for numerous clients. We understand the insidious nature of crack or powder cocaine leading to mental and physical health declines in cocaine users.

Let’s discuss how cocaine affects the brain and body and why some people are the exception and become tired and sleepy after using powder or crack cocaine.

Why Does Cocaine Make Me Tired?

Although the powerful stimulant effects of cocaine have been proven for decades, those who use it may report sleep disturbances or poor sleep quality.

Here’s a look at a few reasons that cocaine disrupts normal sleep patterns:

Crashing into Extreme Fatigue After the High

Cocaine gives users a euphoric burst but leads to a “crash” after the high wars off. This cocaine usage cycle can make you feel tired or fatigued after drug abuse.

Disrupted Sleep Patterns and Cocaine Use

Smoking crack or using powder cocaine affects sleep cycles, making you stay awake for some time after using. The stimulant effects of cocaine can also lead to problems staying asleep or frequent awakenings during the night.

Disrupting the Brain and Central Nervous System

Cocaine addiction can change how the brain and central nervous system communicate with the rest of the body. It reduces the efficiency of key neurotransmitters that regulate energy and mood, which can leave you sluggish.

Increased Heart Rate and a Physical Toll on Overall Health

Cocaine use can cause high blood pressure, constricted blood vessels, and increased risk of a heart attack. Besides the risk of heart attack and stress on the cardiovascular system, cocaine can interact with certain medications that cause sleepiness. It is extremely dangerous to the entire body and can cause intense exhaustion.

The Scope of Cocaine Use in the United States

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that about 2% of Americans aged 12 and up report having used cocaine within the past year.

That equals about 6.9 million people who have experienced cocaine’s effects. While cocaine is not as widely abused as some other drugs, it is just as difficult to sop

Understanding Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine originates from the coca plant of South America. It produces an intense initial high that’s relatively short-lived. Cocaine users start to seek more cocaine to maintain the good feeling. That rapidly repeated use quickly spirals into a vortex of addiction.

As the body attempts to metabolize cocaine or other substances used with it, it starts to produce intense cravings. These can be hard to resist and users stop considering the consequences of cocaine use.

That’s because cocaine works by hijacking the brain’s reward system. Put very simply, users stop caring about the consequences. For instance, a person with high blood pressure knows that cocaine and other stimulants increase the risks of heart attacks. But the cocaine has lulled their brain into a false feeling of safety.

Differences Between Types of Cocaine

Cocaine comes in two primary types: powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Both can lead to a vicious cycle of abuse as the drug addiction grows and eventually requires professional help to stop.

Powdered Cocaine Addiction

The fine, white powdered cocaine is usually snorted or sometimes dissolved and then injected. Of the two types, powdered cocaine is purer than crack – but that doesn’t make it safer.

Why Crack Cocaine Is a Highly Addictive Form

Crack cocaine is consumed by smoking the solid, rock-like substance. Made by mixing powder cocaine with baking soda or ammonia, crack cocaine produces a concentrated, fast high withing moments after smoking.

Signs of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine makes people behave in ways that they would not usually act. If you are reading this as a loved one of someone you suspect of cocaine abuse, please know these behavioral and physical signs of powdered or crack cocaine addiction:

• Dilated or pupils
• Runny nose or nosebleeds
• Red nose
• Increased blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Insomnia or lack of consistent sleep schedule
• Burn marks (from smoking crack cocaine)
• Drug cravings
• Nightmares
• Paranoia or anxiety
• Cocaine-induced psychosis (which can cause hallucinations or suicidal thoughts)
• Exaggerated confidence or belief of invincibility
• Restless

These signs can often overlap with other commonly abused drugs. Regardless of what substance your loved one uses, it’s time to encourage them to consult with medical professionals.

Download Our PDF: Is My Loved One Using Cocaine

If you are trying to learn if your loved one is using cocaine, feel free to download this PDF. It cannot diagnose Cocaine Use Disorder. However, the checklist can help you determine if it’s time to seek treatment options.

The Fallacy of Waiting for Rock Bottom (Risk: Cocaine Overdose)

If you are delaying treatment because you haven’t hit rock bottom, waiting to get treatment is a dangerous game. Most define rock bottom as losing everything. But what if rock bottom is a cocaine overdose?

Overdosing can happen from taking too much of the drug. It can also happen when mixing it with other drugs intentionally, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, or sleeping pills, to induce sleepiness.

Worse, overdoses can happen due to other substances mixed into the crack (like fentanyl). Waiting for rock bottom because you want to delay making vital lifestyle changes could mean death.

An Effective Cocaine Addiction Treatment Plan

You may be exhausted from the sleep disturbances, chasing drugs, and spending all your money on cocaine. You are curious about rehab but feel uncomfortable asking questions. These next sections can help you decide to get the help you need.

A Cocaine Treatment Plan May Be Covered by Insurance up to 100%

Can cocaine treatment be covered by insurance? Yes! Since Obamacare passed in 2010, care for mental health disorders, including drug addiction, is treated the same as physical health concerns.

This allows us to take a holistic approach, treating both the mental health aspects of cocaine abuse and the physical symptoms, such as the sleep effects. Call our admissions team for help getting your insurance coverage verified; they’ll gladly work out the details.

Medical Detox for Preventing Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

Cocaine withdrawal is at least uncomfortable; the worst symptoms can be dangerous. If you’re ready to stop using cocaine, consider calling Changes Healing Center for medically supervised detox.

We will monitor your well-being throughout the process and ensure you detox from cocaine safely.

Dual Diagnosis and an Evidence-Based Treatment Plan

We provide all clients with customized services to treat drug addiction and any additional mental health concerns. Clients benefit from proven therapies in our outpatient or residential living (inpatient) facilites:

• Motivational interviewing
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Contingency management
• Medication management
• Mindfulness training and relaxation techniques
• Dialectical behavior therapy

Our goal is to work on mental well-being. Better physical health, including better sleep, will follow as the body recovers from addiction.

Get Proven Help for Cocaine and Sleep Deprivation

Can cocaine make you tired, despite being a stimulant? Yes, it can cause you to have low sleep quality or the inability to stay asleep altogether. If you are ready for help to stop your struggles with drug addiction, Changes Healing Center has a program to help.

Our methods work, thanks to our individualized treatment options that help you learn why you started to use your drug or choice to begin with.

We’re here to assist you with your cocaine addiction – call us today.