User:Mr. Ibrahem/Cocaine intoxication

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Cocaine intoxication refers to the negative and potentially life threatening effects of cocaine. Symptoms that occur shortly after use often include fast heart rate, high blood pressure, and agitation. Other effects may include high body temperature and sweating. Complications may include acute coronary syndrome, seizures, stroke, pneumothorax, and excited delirium.

Cocaine may be smoked, injected, or snorted. Onset of effects is within 5 seconds when smoked, a minute when injected, and within 5 minutes when snorted. Effects last for 5 to 90 minutes. Toxicity may also occur due to body packing or body stuffing. Diagnosis can be supported by urine testing which remains positive for one or two days after a single us and potentially weeks with long term use. False positives are uncommon.

The initial treatment is typically with a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam or midazolam by injection. If high blood pressure persists, it may be managed with nicardipine or labetalol. High temperature may require additional cooling techniques. Aspirin and nitroglycerin may be used in those with chest pain. Those with a wide QRS complex or cardiac arrest may be treated with sodium bicarbonate.

About 19 million people used cocaine globally in 2018, most commonly in North America and Western Europe. In the United States about half a million episodes of cocaine use required emergency department care in 2011 and such use was involved in 15,900 deaths in 2019. Cocaine intoxication can result in death. Cocaine is frequently mixed with levamisole which may result in low white blood cells and vasculitis.