Does Cocaine Cause Headaches?

Looking Into the Reality of Cocaine Headaches and Getting Help

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It might seem like a more minor concern, but if you are a regular coke user and experiencing migraines or other headache issues, the question is an important one: Does cocaine cause headaches?

A simple headache can keep you from truly living your life pain-free. It makes it hard to focus, concentrate, and enjoy the things that are happening around you.

And the bad news is that it’s likely triggered by chronic cocaine use.

Cocaine leads to vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, making it hard for the body to pump blood and resulting in a serious headache. Other means of headache formation include increased blood pressure, depletion of neurotransmitters, and simple withdrawal from the substance.

Purpose Healing Center offers a comprehensive treatment program for anyone struggling with cocaine-induced headaches. Cocaine withdrawal is serious and requires medical professionals to monitor and help throughout the detox process.

Here’s what you should know about how cocaine-induced headaches form with exposure to the drug.

How Does a Cocaine-Induced Headache Form?

If you struggle with chronic cocaine use, your headaches might be more frequent than you would like. Drug abuse, particularly with drugs that impact the nervous system, can lead to more than just a long-term addiction. How does your cocaine abuse cause headaches?

Blood Vessels Constrict During Cocaine Abuse

The first and perhaps most well-known pathway for cocaine users to develop headaches is through blood vessel constriction. No matter how you use your cocaine, it is a well-known vasoconstrictive substance. This means that your blood vessels narrow substantially, leading to decreased blood flow.

The brain is often the first place to look for decreased blood flow when this occurs. The result is a very painful and serious headache.

Keep in mind that cocaine has been linked to a condition known as reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. This incorporates what is known as a thunderclap headache, a sudden and severe headache with symptoms that reach peak pain in a matter of minutes.

While it can be scary to have this serious condition, and you may require professional medical advice, the central nervous system can recover from substance abuse. Illicit drug use can trigger the condition, but quitting may be able to reverse it.

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Increased Blood Pressure in Chronic Cocaine Users

Severe headaches could also be the sign of something much more serious: hypertension or high blood pressure. This often works hand in hand with the vasoconstriction that was covered in the last section. Your veins and arteries are narrower than usual, while the nervous system is more active simultaneously.

The result is that your blood flow is increased due to cocaine use, but it has a harder time making it through the smaller vessels. As you might have guessed, the result can be a pounding headache.

Keep in mind that elevated blood pressure can be a marker for many more serious concerns, such as strokes. Once you start to experience headaches accompanying your crack cocaine use, it may be time to consider seeking help.

How Cocaine Addiction and Withdrawal Cause Headaches

Of course, it isn’t just chronic cocaine use that can cause severe headaches. When you want to put a stop to cocaine dependence once and for all, there are other concerns. Withdrawal symptoms often include more headaches for a variety of reasons.

As your body adjusts to a world without the stimulant drug use, you can encounter cocaine headaches in much the same way that you did while using. Your body and brain are not yet accustomed to the idea of living without the stimulant. Too long without it can cause a serious headache.

However, you can also find that headaches are caused by how cocaine affects neurotransmitters. When in active addiction, coke causes a depletion of important chemical messengers like dopamine and serotonin. Cocaine withdrawal will require you to replenish those stores.

Getting Help for Substance Abuse and Chronic Cocaine Use

A pounding headache is no fun for anyone. But couple it with the other withdrawal symptoms you’re likely to encounter when you come off coke (or crack, for that matter), and you have a serious issue. You will likely be quite uncomfortable in the first days and weeks without stimulants.

Purpose Healing Center can help you take the first steps in our comfortable and accredited facility with a medical detox process on-site. You’ll be under the care of medical professionals so that we can treat your cluster headaches and cocaine use simultaneously.

When you’re ready to move on from medical detox, we offer a full continuum of care. Most people will start in our residential treatment facility and gradually transition to intensive outpatient care when the effects of cocaine withdrawal have lessened.

We accept most private insurances in-network, but also take Arizona’s Medicaid in the form of AHCCCS. If you need help, we want you to get the support needed to embrace a sober lifestyle.

When Do You Need Help for Cocaine Headaches?

At a certain point, you may want to consider your headache a medical emergency. As already seen, high blood pressure leads to headaches and can also cause a stroke. If you are unsure whether you might be experiencing some of these symptoms, ask a friend or family member to evaluate you.

Here are some of the warning signs you should be on the lookout for if you frequently get cocaine headaches:

Being less alert than usual
Inability to move or feel things the same as you usually would
Nausea and vomiting
Exhaustion
Changes in vision
Seizures

When you encounter any of these symptoms or a combination of them, you may require medical intervention. Don’t delay in seeking treatment, or it could have serious consequences.

Purpose Healing Center can monitor you for these and other dangerous symptoms. Our medical staff is skilled in treating minor issues and can send you for help at a hospital if you require more help for these headaches. It never hurts to be cautious with a serious headache and get the help you need for pain relief.

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Choose Purpose Healing Center for Support to Put Headaches in the Past

When you want to get your substance use disorder under control, it’s time to dive deep into your mental health with treatment. Purpose Healing Center is here for you to take those first steps into sober living. We won’t leave you to walk alone when we offer a full continuum of care so that you get the support you need.

Our enrollment team is ready and waiting to answer any questions you might have about getting sober. Verify your insurance benefits in a confidential call and save a spot in our robust treatment program today!