Which of the following are signs/symptoms of stimulant (cocaine) withdrawal?

• A. Increased energy and euphoria
• B. Decreased energy/restless sleep, paranoia and depression, increased appetite
• C. Decreased energy, agitation, insomnia
• D. Weight gain

Answer: (B)

Cocaine withdrawal tends to produce a “crash” as the body rebounds from the stimulant effects. After stopping use, people often feel heavy fatigue, want to sleep a lot or have disrupted sleep, and experience a mood drop such as depression or dysphoria. Appetite tends to increase as energy and reward systems normalize. Cravings and irritability can occur, and some individuals may have paranoid thoughts or heightened anxiety during this period, but the hallmark signs are fatigue, sleep changes, depressed mood, and increased appetite.

The other descriptions fit intoxication or less typical withdrawal features. Increased energy and euphoria occur while using the drug, not after stopping. A pattern of decreased energy with agitation and insomnia is less representative of the classic cocaine crash, and weight gain alone doesn’t capture the mood and sleep changes seen in withdrawal.