Cocaine

Common Names: It, Erythroxylum, South, America, The

Psychoactive Effects

Positive Effects

  • Euphoria

Neutral Effects

  • Increased energy
  • Enhanced focus
  • Reduced appetite
  • Increased heart rate
  • Pupil dilation
  • Euphoria

Negative Effects

  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Dosage Guidelines

Route Threshold Light Common Strong Heavy
Insufflated 5-15 mg 15-30 mg 30-60 mg 60-100 mg 100+ mg
Oral 50-100 mg 100-200 mg 200-400 mg 400-600 mg 600+ mg

Duration

Phase Duration
Onset 1-3 minutes (insufflated)
Peak 15-30 minutes
Total 30-60 minutes
After effects 1-3 hours

Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action: Cocaine acts as a reuptake inhibitor of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin by binding to their respective transporters, preventing reuptake and increasing extracellular concentrations.

Metabolism: Metabolized in the liver primarily by plasma esterases and CYP3A4 enzymes. Major metabolites include benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester.

Half-life: Approximately 1-2 hours, with effects typically lasting 30-60 minutes.

Bioavailability: ~30% when insufflated, ~25% when taken orally, and ~100% when administered intravenously.

Risks and Harm Reduction

AddictionWithdrawalDependenceToxicity

⚠️ Important: Always practice harm reduction. Start with low doses, test your substances, and ensure a safe set and setting. Never use alone.

Legal Status

Disclaimer: Legal status varies by jurisdiction and may change. This information is for educational purposes only.

References

  • • Volkow, N. D., et al. (2016). Neurobiologic advances from the brain disease model of addiction. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(4), 363-371.
  • • Karch, S. B. (2009). Karch's Pathology of Drug Abuse. CRC Press.
  • • Goldstein, R. A., et al. (2009). Medical toxicology of drug abuse: synthesized chemicals and psychoactive plants. John Wiley & Sons.
  • • Information compiled from PsychonautWiki