Cocaine harm reduction ( heart attack, strokes )

[TriputoryHeadicine]

I'm interested in putting together a list of interventions, pharmacological and otherwise, for cocaine use specifically. My main concern in the vasoconstriction, as with other stimulants. I haven't found any evidence that using vasodilators with cocaine is dangerous, but I wasn't expecting to find a lot of info related to that. Has anyone suffered physically as a result of their coke usage?

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

The four main organs trashed by cocaine usage are: Heart, Lungs(if you smoke), Brain, Nose...

Cocaine makes your coronary arteries clench... There really is no way around this but to take a nice dose of benzos.

Use them before and after the coke, and you will have dramatically less symptoms.

But the overall damage is still there with the amount you use.

 

[Crashing]

Best bet is to have an IM ativan rigged up, or pill benzos on hand to prevent any overdose complications. Cocaine has a pretty complete history and I don't think there is anything to make it safer other than being smart about one's use.

 

[Tyrielle]

Cocaine use definitely does affect your heart but ofcourse depends on level of use, method of ingestion and your genetic make-up. Some of us are born with a weaker heart naturally, others seem to be super-strong.

I myself have used cocaine on the occasion but ice/crystal meth is my drug of choice and after using for 2 and a half years I had a full cardiovascular examination by a doctor, who prescribed me 'Deralin 20mg' which is meant to treat the strain the meth was inducing. Since then I've never had another heart ache and it beats at a regular level. I know this isn't cocaine specifically but I would say it's pretty relevant information as with stimulants in general.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

Cocaine use definitely does affect your heart but ofcourse depends on level of use, method of ingestion and your genetic make-up. Some of us are born with a weaker heart naturally, others seem to be super-strong.

I myself have used cocaine on the occasion but ice/crystal meth is my drug of choice and after using for 2 and a half years I had a full cardiovascular examination by a doctor, who prescribed me 'Deralin 20mg' which is meant to treat the strain the meth was inducing. Since then I've never had another heart ache and it beats at a regular level. I know this isn't cocaine specifically but I would say it's pretty relevant information as with stimulants in general.

You should not use stimulants and propranolol...

 

[BritishLad]

You should not use stimulants and propranolol...

This is a dangerous combination. To copy and paste the reasons why:
"Beta blockers only knock out the beta-adrenergic branch of the sympathetic nervous system. The alpha-adrenergic branch remains fully active. This means that you get vasoconstriction (from alpha adrenergic stimulation) but with a reduced cardiac output (from the beta blockers slowing the heart rate). There is a risk of high blood pressure and reduced tissue perfusion (decreased blood flow to the tissues) which can cause tissue damage and can even lead to a myocardial infarction (heart attack)."

"The blockade of only beta receptors increases hypertension, reduces coronary blood flow, left ventricular function, and cardiac output and tissue perfusion by means of leaving the alpha-adrenergic system stimulation unopposed."

Stimulants increase you HR and BP, whilst beta blockers lower you HR and BP. Directly, some people take them and they're fine, others have ended up dead. But it is all dose dependent and what stimulant. My guess would be the stronger the stimulant the bigger the risk. Not to scare you or anything, but I definitely wouldn't mix them.