Continuation of full definition of cocaine

Use of cocaine.
Medical
Reacreational
Coca leave
Insufflation
Injections
Inhalation


What are the effects of cocaine on the brain?

Short-term effects

Long-term effects

Other health effects

Substance use disorder

Contacting a doctor

Summary
Cocaine is a stimulant drug and highly addictive. Using cocaine can cause changes to the brain, such as in the reward system, resulting in a buildup of dopamine and making it difficult for someone to stop using the substance.

Cocaine can also affect how the brain reacts to stress, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and negative moods. It may also make a person more likely to relapse if they try to stop using the drug.

If a person has been using cocaine excessively or for a long time, their brain may change in several other ways. This can include making unfavorable decisions and finding it difficult to pay attention.

This article discusses the short- and long-term effects that cocaine can have on the brain, other health considerations, substance use disorder, and when to consider speaking with a doctor.


Short-term effects on the brain

If a person uses cocaine, it can have both short- and long-term effects on their brain. Some effects of cocaine are almost instantaneous and typically last from a few minutes to 1 hour.

After using cocaine in smaller amounts, a person may feel more:

mentally alert
talkative
euphoric
energized
sensitive to sound, touch, and light
Individuals also may experience:

anxiety
panic attacks
paranoia
increased irritability
Short-term cocaine use can increase the risk of stroke, seizures, headaches, and coma. A person may also suddenly behave in a violent and erratic way.


Long-term effects
Long-term effects of cocaine use on the brain may include:

Changes to the reward system
Within this system, the brain associates events or objects outside the body, or stimuli, with a positive outcome. The brain releases dopamine, which reinforces that the stimuli are desirable.

Prolonged use of cocaine may interfere with this natural process, resulting in a buildup of dopamine that can make the drug seem even more desirable. However, 2020 researchTrusted Source on monkeys suggests that another neurotransmitter called glutamate may also play a role in the reward system and addiction.

Stress
Over time, cocaine use can cause the stress receptors in the brain to become more sensitive, which can lead to an increase in feelings of dissatisfaction and negative moods when a person is not using the substance.

Tolerance
If a person uses cocaine regularly for a long period, their brain may develop a tolerance to the drug.

This means that a person may need to use larger amounts of cocaine more frequently to feel the same short-term effects. Cocaine tolerance can increase a person's risk of experiencing an overdose.

Sensitization
Repeated use of cocaine may cause the brain to be more sensitive to the negative or toxic effects of cocaine, such as anxiety, at lower doses. This can also increase the risk of an overdose.

Psychological effects
If a person uses cocaine repeatedly and at increasingly higher doses, they may start to feel increasingly irritable and restless. A person may also experience paranoia, panic attacks, and psychosis.

Neurological disorders
People who use cocaine for long periods may have an increased risk of:

a brain hemorrhage
stroke
a brain aneurysm
seizures
Parkinson's disease
Cognitive functions
Over time, cocaine use can impair functions such as attention, memory, decision-making, and motor skills.

Other effects of cocaine
Cocaine use can affect the other parts of the body as well as the brain. Some of the other health effects of cocaine use can include:

Heart problems: According to some studies in a 2019 research review, usingcocaine can affectTrusted Source the cardiovascular system in several ways — for example, by causing high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or a heart attack.
Gastric issues: Cocaine use can reduce blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract, which may lead to conditions such as stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal perforations. A person may also experience loss of appetite, which may lead to weight loss and malnutrition.
Other complications: These may include chest pain and insomnia.
Depending on how a person administers cocaine, there may be several other side effects:

If an individual inhales cocaine through the nasal passages, they may experience:
nosebleeds
difficulty swallowing
loss of sense of smell
an inflamed nasal septum
If they use needles to inject cocaine, this may lead to puncture wounds and the risk of contracting conditions such as HIV and hepatitis C.
If someone smokes crack cocaine, it may cause lung damage and worsening asthma symptoms.

Substance use disorder
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental health condition that can affectTrusted Source the brain and alter a person's behavior. This means they may find it difficult to manage their use of cocaine and may experience addiction in the most severe cases of SUD.

A person with SUD may also be living with other mental health conditions. Some of these can include:

bipolar disorder
depression
schizophrenia
anxiety
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
personality disorders
Treatment for SUD may include:

cognitive behavioral therapy
living in drug-free residences so that a person can recover alongside others with similar experiences
motivational incentives — rewarding individuals who do not use cocaine
support groups.Not a valid attachment ID.
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