BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCocaine intoxicationIntoxication - 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.Using the drugCocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in water. It is available as a powder or...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cocaine intoxication may be caused by:Taking too much cocaine, or taking a too-concentrated form of cocaine Using cocaine when the weather is hot, which leads to more harm and side effects due to dehydration Using cocaine with certain other drugs Symptoms Symptoms of cocaine intoxication include: Feeing high, excited, talking and rambling, sometimes about bad things happening Anxiety, agitation, restlessness, confusion Muscle tremors, such as in the face and fingers Enlarged pupils that don't get smaller when a light shines into the eyes Increased heart rate and blood pressure Lightheadedness Paleness Nausea and vomiting Fever, sweatingWith higher doses or an overdose, more severe symptoms can occur, including:Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of awareness of surroundings Loss of urine control Loss of urine controlUrinary (or bladder) incontinence occurs when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High body temperature, severe sweating High blood pressure, very fast heart rate or irregular heart rhythm Bluish color of the skin Fast or difficulty breathing DeathCocaine is often cut (mixed) with other substances. When taken, additional symptoms can occur. Exams and Tests If cocaine intoxication is suspected, your health care provider may order the following tests:Cardiac enzymes (to look for evidence of heart damage or heart attack) Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the head, if head injury or bleeding is suspected CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Electrocardiogram (ECG, to measure electrical activity in the heart) ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Toxicology screening (poison and drug) UrinalysisUrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:Breathing support, including oxygen, a tube down the throat, and ventilator (breathing machine) IV fluids (fluids through a vein) Medicines to treat symptoms such as pain, anxiety, agitation, nausea, seizures, and high blood pressure Other medicines or treatments for heart, brain, muscle, and kidney complications Long-term treatment requires drug counseling in combination with medical therapy. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook depends on the amount of cocaine used and what organs are affected. Permanent damage may occur, which may cause:Seizures, stroke, and paralysis StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic anxiety and psychosis (severe mental disorders) Decreased mental functioning Heart irregularities and decreased heart function Kidney failure requiring dialysis (kidney machine) Destruction of muscles, which can lead to amputationOpen ReferencesReferencesAronson 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.National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Cocaine. nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cocaine. Updated March 2024. Accessed January 10, 2025.AllVideoImagesTogElectrocardiogram (ECG) - illustration An electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. This includes the rate and regularity of beats as well as the size and position of the chambers, any damage to the heart, and effects of drugs or devices to regulate the heart.Electrocardiogram (ECG)illustrationElectrocardiogram (ECG) - illustration An electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. This includes the rate and regularity of beats as well as the size and position of the chambers, any damage to the heart, and effects of drugs or devices to regulate the heart.Electrocardiogram (ECG)illustrationRelated Information Toxicology screen(Medical Test)Central nervous system(Special Topic)Cardiovascular(Special Topic)Stroke(Condition)Arrhythmias(Condition)Substance use(Special Topic)Substance use disorder(Condition)Drug use first aid(Injury)Stroke - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/8/2025 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. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Cocaine intoxicationIntoxication - 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.Using the drugCocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in water. It is available as a powder or...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cocaine intoxication may be caused by:Taking too much cocaine, or taking a too-concentrated form of cocaine Using cocaine when the weather is hot, which leads to more harm and side effects due to dehydration Using cocaine with certain other drugs Symptoms Symptoms of cocaine intoxication include: Feeing high, excited, talking and rambling, sometimes about bad things happening Anxiety, agitation, restlessness, confusion Muscle tremors, such as in the face and fingers Enlarged pupils that don't get smaller when a light shines into the eyes Increased heart rate and blood pressure Lightheadedness Paleness Nausea and vomiting Fever, sweatingWith higher doses or an overdose, more severe symptoms can occur, including:Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of awareness of surroundings Loss of urine control Loss of urine controlUrinary (or bladder) incontinence occurs when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High body temperature, severe sweating High blood pressure, very fast heart rate or irregular heart rhythm Bluish color of the skin Fast or difficulty breathing DeathCocaine is often cut (mixed) with other substances. When taken, additional symptoms can occur. Exams and Tests If cocaine intoxication is suspected, your health care provider may order the following tests:Cardiac enzymes (to look for evidence of heart damage or heart attack) Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the head, if head injury or bleeding is suspected CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Electrocardiogram (ECG, to measure electrical activity in the heart) ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Toxicology screening (poison and drug) UrinalysisUrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:Breathing support, including oxygen, a tube down the throat, and ventilator (breathing machine) IV fluids (fluids through a vein) Medicines to treat symptoms such as pain, anxiety, agitation, nausea, seizures, and high blood pressure Other medicines or treatments for heart, brain, muscle, and kidney complications Long-term treatment requires drug counseling in combination with medical therapy. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook depends on the amount of cocaine used and what organs are affected. Permanent damage may occur, which may cause:Seizures, stroke, and paralysis StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic anxiety and psychosis (severe mental disorders) Decreased mental functioning Heart irregularities and decreased heart function Kidney failure requiring dialysis (kidney machine) Destruction of muscles, which can lead to amputationOpen ReferencesReferencesAronson 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.National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Cocaine. nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cocaine. Updated March 2024. Accessed January 10, 2025.
