Now, I'm no expert at drug chemistry. I've read, that cocaine is particularly dangerous due to its numbing effects. Meaning it also blocks heart Na channels. Also Na channel blocking anesthetics (may be?/are?) vasodilators. Could it be, that cocaine is at the same time vasoconstrictor and vasodilator? What I want to know is, that if cocaine wouldn't have its numbing effect, meaning the mechanism which makes it numbing wouldn't be existent, would it raise heart rate higher and be a stronger vasoconstrictor compared to its current activity?
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N&PD Moderators: Skorpio
Cocaine and its anesthetic effect
- Thread starter Indopan
- Start date
sekio
Bluelight Crew
I don't think so, no.
tweex
Bluelighter
More through explanation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14757121
ebola?
Bluelight Crew
Great link!
So yes, it seems to be the character of Na channel inhibition that determines whether the effect is cardiotoxic or heart-healthy.
ebola
DPT
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2013
- Messages
- 8
To the best of my knowledge, cocaine is still occasionally used medically today for things such as nosebleeds because it's direct application causes vasoconstriction and therefore stops bleeding in a rather efficient manner. I believe this is directly related to it's local anesthetic effect, aka Na channel blocking properties, but I'm not 100% sure.