Cocaine is a quick-acting, powerful stimulant. It acts directly on the heart muscle, brain, blood vessels, and nerve tissue. Its effects are felt very soon after it is taken. Cocaine may cause:
Your healthcare provider will review your symptoms, examine you, and ask about your use of drugs. You may have an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the electrical activity of your heart.
The fast heart rate, chest pain, and palpitations usually get better as soon as the cocaine is out of your system. Heart attacks and strokes caused by cocaine are treated the same as when they are caused by other problems. Hospitalization and medicine may be needed to limit any damage to the heart. Unfortunately, people may die from cocaine before they can get medical help.
The best way to help yourself is to see your healthcare provider and to make and follow plans to stop taking cocaine. You can get more information from:
The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
Phone: 1-800-729-6686
Web site: http://ncadi.samhsa.gov.
