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Cocaine intoxication - Overview

Alternative Names

Intoxication - cocaine

Definition of Cocaine intoxication:

Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that affects your central nervous system. It produces a sense of extreme joy by causing the brain to release higher than normal amounts of some biochemicals. However, cocaine's effects on other parts of the body can be very serious or even deadly.

See also:

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cocaine intoxication may be caused by:

  • Taking too much cocaine, or too concentrated a form of cocaine
  • Using cocaine on hot weather days, which leads to more harm and side effects because of dehydration
  • Using cocaine with certain other drugs
  • Severe intoxication and death can occur in "drug mules" or "body packers" who intentionally swallow packets of cocaine
  • Reviewed last on: 6/17/2011
  • Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Perrone J, Hoffman RS. Cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine, and nicotine. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004:chap 168.

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