Intoxication - cocaine
Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that affects your central nervous system. Cocaine comes from the coca plant. When used, cocaine causes the brain to release higher than normal amounts of some chemicals. These produce a sense of euphoria, or a "high."
Cocaine intoxication is a condition in which you're not only high from using the drug, but you also have body-wide symptoms that can make you ill and impaired.
Cocaine intoxication may be caused by:
Symptoms of cocaine intoxication include:
With higher doses or an overdose, more severe symptoms can occur, including:
Cocaine is often cut (mixed) with other substances. When taken, additional symptoms can occur.
If cocaine intoxication is suspected, the health care provider may order the following tests:
The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive:
Long-term treatment requires drug counseling in combination with medical therapy.
The outlook depends on the amount of cocaine used and what organs are affected. Permanent damage may occur, which may cause:
Aronson JK. Cocaine. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:492-542.
Chary MA, Erickson TB. Cocaine and other sympathomimetics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 144.
BACK TO TOPReview Date: 1/2/2023
Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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