It’s another long night, trying to get each proposal in order for tomorrow’s meeting with corporate. You have been working long hours, striving to rise through the ranks. Your coworkers have already gone home for the evening, a sign of their undedicated nature. This is your chance to solidify your role and earn the promotion to executive account manager. Before they know it, you will be next in line for CEO.
Your eyes are betraying you though, drifting tiredly. You open the drawer to your desk and reach toward the very back, where a small bag with white powder sits out of sight. After a couple of quick bumps of cocaine, you feel renewed with energy and dive back into the proposals. Time goes on as each file comes together, but you find yourself feeling hot, like it’s 90 degrees in the office. Loosening your tie, you look and see that the bag of cocaine is already gone. How much did you take? Sweat floods your body as you try to find a window for air. You feel dizzy and almost like you could pass out, which has never happened to you before when using cocaine. What is going on?
In 2020, 284 deaths were caused by or had the presence of cocaine in Pinellas County. Tranquil Shores is a leading provider of quality, individualized addiction treatment in a secluded and beachfront facility. We feature a low client-to-therapist ratio – 3:1 – to ensure our clients receive the individual attention they deserve. Our program addresses all facets of addiction and can address all physical and mental concerns surrounding cocaine use. Let’s take a look at cocaine sweats and the harm they can cause.
What Are Cocaine Sweats?
Cocaine sweats are a response from the body caused by using the substance. They can occur for different reasons, but the term is normally associated with experiencing withdrawal or polysubstance use. The body produces sweat as a response to heat, illicit substance use, or taking certain medications. It can also be a response to anxiety and fear, which cocaine can induce. Cocaine sweats are more exaggerated than the normal sweat response, making them uncomfortable. Sweating from cocaine use can also be an indicator of something more serious, such as an overdose.
What Causes Cocaine Sweats?
Cocaine sweats are associated with withdrawal and polysubstance use. Despite popular belief, cocaine actually hinders the body from sweating during use. Cocaine works by affecting the central nervous system and causes body temperature to rise due to elevated muscle activity and agitation. As body temperature continues to rise, the central nervous system would normally signal to begin cooling measures. Studies have found that cocaine hinders this response from the central nervous system, causing the person not to sweat and heat to stay trapped under the skin. This significantly increased the risk of developing hyperthermia – a serious condition of overheating.
Another study concluded that cocaine not only causes impaired sweating but also heat perception. This is the behavior to change the environment to cool the system before damage occurs from hyperthermia. However, it was concluded that experiencing hyperthermia from cocaine use would occur in hotter climates, such as excessive outdoor heat or in cramped areas with a lot of people (raves, clubs, etc.).
Cocaine withdrawal is a leading cause of experiencing cocaine sweats. As the effects of cocaine wear off, the body is able to feel and address what is going on. The vessels under the skin expand and allow sweat to escape to begin cooling the body. The person may experience chills as the body is no longer at a high temperature, often referred to as cold sweats. If cocaine is not used again, the cocaine sweats will typically end in a few days.
Opioids mixed with cocaine can cause cocaine sweats. Fentanyl has been a leading cutting agent in the substance use world, and many ingest the substance without knowing. When cocaine and fentanyl are combined, the effects can seem to cancel each other out. Opioids help open blood vessels even as cocaine restricts them, allowing sweat to reach the skin’s surface. However, this combination is still dangerous as the person takes more and more to feel the effects they are used to. This leads to an increased risk of overdose.
Sweating: A Symptom of Addiction?
Sweating between uses of cocaine can be an indication of dependence. As the body becomes used to having cocaine in the system, it has to learn to adapt without its presence. This causes uncomfortable symptoms such as sweating, insomnia, increased appetite, irritability, and mood swings. Chills can also occur due to increased sweating, causing shakiness and trembling.
Are Cocaine Sweats a Sign of Overdose?
While cocaine sweats may not be a sign of a cocaine overdose, they can be a sign of a polysubstance overdose. As we discussed above, cocaine mixed with opioids can mask signs of an overdose. Cocaine increases heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, and when too much is taken at once, the consequences can be dangerous. Heart attacks, strokes, and seizures can occur from a cocaine overdose. There is no medication to reduce the effects of cocaine, medical professionals can only work to stabilize heart rate and blood pressure while cooling the body to avoid hyperthermia.
Opioids can make it seem like the body is not as warm as it is, masking the signs of a cocaine overdose. They can also cause an overdose themselves. Signs of an opioid overdose mixed with cocaine use include:
- Sweating
- Chills (even though you are warm)
- Falling in and out of consciousness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Seizures
In the event of a cocaine overdose or polysubstance overdose, contact medical help immediately. If you think opioids were ingested with cocaine, administer Narcan if available. Stay with the person and keep them as calm as possible. When help arrives, be honest about all substances taken so they are able to treat the person properly.
Long-Term Complications From Cocaine Sweats
Typically, cocaine sweats do not last long-term. Many will only experience cocaine sweats for a few days as cocaine leaves their bodies. However, in those who experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), increased sweating may last weeks or months after the last use. PAWS does not cause permanent hyperhidrosis, a condition in which the body produces excess sweat. If increased sweating is becoming a hindrance in everyday life or you are concerned there is a different underlying cause, talk with your doctor.
Getting Treatment for Cocaine Addiction in Pinellas County, FL
Experiencing negative side effects of cocaine use (such as sweating) can take a toll on mental and physical health. Cocaine changes the reward system in the brain, making cravings almost impossible to manage without help. Thankfully, finding a cocaine rehab can be just the help you need to free yourself from the grasp of cocaine. It can take months to rebuild the brain’s reward system, and having the support of peers and a strong foundation of learned coping skills, healing is achievable. Therapy and life skills round out what you will experience in cocaine treatment. There is no better day to begin than today – discover healing and success in recovery.
If you or someone you love is managing a cocaine use disorder, it is not too late to seek help. Tranquil Shores offers programs tailored to executives, medical professionals, artists, musicians, athletes, and more. We understand that no two addiction stories are the same, and we create an individualized path for you that will highlight your goals and needs. Our dedicated and compassionate staff are always available and will treat you with the utmost respect and integrity. Don’t wait to leave cocaine where it belongs – in the dust. Call us today at 727-391-7001 to schedule an appointment.
