Coke comedown
Question
My friend and I experimented with cocaine tonight for the first time. We were having a great time, but now we're coming down and are experiencing painful nasal symptoms, runny nose, sore throat and congestion. We know we need to keep our bodies healthy and we're not planning to take coke again. What can ease these symptoms?
Answer
It sounds like you have experienced the not-so-fun side of cocaine. The side effects can be similar to the symptoms of flu: feeling run down; your head feels like it's full of cotton wool; runny nose; aches; pains; and headaches. It sounds like you and your friend are experiencing the classic symptoms of a coke comedown.
You've got these symptoms because cocaine is a stimulant and it works your body really hard. You probably noticed that you felt full of energy, alert and confident after taking the cocaine. This was because it sped up the way your body was working, increasing your heart rate, blood flow and activity of the brain. It would make sense that your body needs to recover from all this extra work.
The best thing that you can do to ease these symptoms is to treat it like the flu - get lots of rest, drink plenty of water, eat healthy, nutritious food, and most importantly avoid taking any more cocaine. Some people will take more cocaine to help them through the comedown. This is a really bad idea because it leads to a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, working your body even harder, increasing the risk of heart attack or overdose and can lead to addiction.
If the symptoms persist be sure to contact a healthcare professional. NHS Direct can provide confidential advice and information over the phone on 0845 46 47 or online.
It's important to be aware of the risks and effects of drugs before you use them so that you will know what to expect and how to stay safe. Drugs like cocaine can be very dangerous, especially if mixed with other drugs. Mixing cocaine with alcohol can increase the risk of heart attack and it can make the hangovers very nasty. For more information about drugs and alcohol you can ring Frank on 0800 77 66 00 or have a look at our A to Z of drugs.
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