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Cocaine

Cocaine has powerful sympathomimetic and local anaesthetic properties. It is potentially lethal in overdose if severe hyperthermia, hypertension, myocardial ischaemia or pro-arrhythmic effects occur.

References

  • Afonso L. Mohammad T. Thatai D. Crack whips the heart: a review of the cardiovascular toxicity of cocaine.  American Journal of Cardiology 2007; 100(6):1040-1043.
  • Hatsukami DK, Fischman MW.  Crack cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride. Are the differences myth or reality? Journal of the American Medical Association 1996; 276:1580-1588.
  • Lange RA, Hillis LD. Cardiovascular Complications of Cocaine Use.  New England Journal of Medicine. 2001; 345(5):351-358.
  • Shih RD, Hollander JE, Burstein JL et al. Clinical safety of lidocaine in patients with cocaine-associated myocardial infarction. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1995;26:702-706.

Toxicology Handbook

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About Mike Cadogan

Emergency physician with a passion for medical informatics and medical education. Co-founder of HealthEngine, iMeducate, and the GMEP. He writes more eclectically on the web as @sandnsurf | + Mike Cadogan | Contact