Cocaine intoxication

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Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant with potent cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) side effects. Signs of intoxication typically begin with enlarged pupils, a feeling of being "high" (euphoria), agitation, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.

With higher doses, sweating, tremors, confusion, hyperactivity, seizures, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart beats), and sudden death can occur.

See also:

• Cocaine
• Drug abuse
• Drug abuse and dependence
• Drug abuse first aid
• Stroke secondary to cocaine

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Intoxication - cocaine

Bleeding into the lungs, fluid in the lungs, and damage to lung tissue have become more common as a result of crack cocaine smoking.

Those who are thought to have swallowed poorly packaged cocaine following police pursuit are called “body stuffers.” Because of the large quantities of relatively pure drug contained in these packages, toxicity and death can occur if even a single bag ruptures.

Review Date: 04/20/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).