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coke = cardiotoxic?

MeDieViL

MeDieViL

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just looking for references, also wondering what other drugs are cardiotoxic (i know most put an extra pressure on the heart)
 
I don't think cocaine does anything other than put extra strain on the heart. I think most stimulants are going to do this, but cocaine is probably one of the worst, especially IV)

I know cocaine raises blood pressure more than most stimulants, and the increased heart rate only makes things worse.
 
Yes, it is very cardiotoxic (sodium channel blocker and it elevates heart rate and blood pressure, an often lethal combination). Increased incidence of myocardial infarction or other cardiac events, increased arteriosclerosis, and dysrhythmias (as a result of sodium channel blockade).

Meth is also very cardiotoxic but in that case it's because of its ability to stimulate 5HT2B receptors, causing cardiac fibrosis with prolonged used. MDMA and other serotonergic amphetamine may also possess this ability.
 
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Indeed it is cardiotoxic. Nuke is pretty on point, however, a lot of it is due to the numbing effect of coke. A too potent coke shot hits the heart all at once and numbs its. No bueno
 
^ It inhibits propagation of the signal from the aitro-ventricular node (pacemaker) thereby preventing the synchronous sequence of events that make up contraction of the heart. Lignocaine/lidocaine does the same thing, which is why it's used to deal with ventricular fibrillation.

Combine the local anaesthetic activity with it's sympathiomimetic effect, requiring the heart to contract more forcefully and you've got a recipie for disaster
 
fastandbulbous said:
^ It inhibits propagation of the signal from the aitro-ventricular node (pacemaker) thereby preventing the synchronous sequence of events that make up contraction of the heart. Lignocaine/lidocaine does the same thing, which is why it's used to deal with ventricular fibrillation.

Combine the local anaesthetic activity with it's sympathiomimetic effect, requiring the heart to contract more forcefully and you've got a recipie for disaster
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You guys are making a lot of sense, thanks for the info. I never plan on messing with cola again (due more to price, poor quality & addictiveness), but can always do with reminders/additional reasons like this ;).

P.S. I'd guess cola's risks begin to increase quickly once you hit age 40 or so, another reason for me to never bother with it again. Oh yeah, and I'm seriously considering getting out of the whole substance-use scene, before it takes ME out. Fwiw, if I suddenly vanish & anyone's curious to know what's up, my Email address here will still be active.
 
MDPVagrant said:
Oh yeah, and I'm seriously considering getting out of the whole substance-use scene, before it takes ME out. Fwiw, if I suddenly vanish & anyone's curious to know what's up, my Email address here will still be active.
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Sedatives too?
 
If regular amphetamine is not cardiotoxic, whats all the fuss about ADHD meds and heart problems? or is it just because of the prolonged pressure on your heart and no problem if you take those substances like once a week?

I'm also interested in ways to prevent the damage coke might do, what about beta blockers?
 
Amphetamine has similar sympathomimetic effects, so like all sympathomimetics, prolonged and/or high dose usage will be cardiotoxic. Amphetamine does not possess the calcium channel blocking ability of cocaine, so in that sense it is less cardiotoxic. I think amphetamine is less serotonergic than methamphetamine, which would, in this respect, make it less cardiotoxic.
On the other hand, as far as I know, cocaine has no active metabolites, whereas amphetamine does. Is anyone aware of pharmacological data on the metabolites of amphetamine?
 
Do not administer beta-blockers with cocaine (or other NE enhancing stimulants)! This actually enhances cocaine cardiotoxicity by leaving alpha-adrenergic receptors unaffected.

The problem with prolonged daily use of stimulants is that hypertension and elevated pulse rate increase the incidence of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular ischemia while being used. Hence the lawsuits about Adderall. So long as there is no destruction done to the cardiovascular system, like cardiac fibrosis from methamphetamine, the person is supposed to resume normal cardiovascular incidence risk after discontinuing with stimulants.

You may be able to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular problems with cocaine with angiotensin II antagonists, ACE inhibitors, or diuretics, but it's not possible to eliminate the risk presented by sodium channel blockage (which F+B elaborated on above).

Monitor your BP on stimulants (and even when not on them); your resting BP should be 110-120/70-80. There are plenty of BP monitors available at drug stores that you can use in your home for $40-100.

There's lots of data on amphetamine metabolites. The primary metabolites are para-hydroxyamphetamine and alpha-hydroxyamphetamine.
 
nuke said:
Do not administer beta-blockers with cocaine (or other NE enhancing stimulants)! This actually enhances cocaine cardiotoxicity by leaving alpha-adrenergic receptors unaffected.
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This advice should be heeded. For those of us naive in regards to such an interaction, it's easy to assume that beta-blockers can 'only improve the situation' when an excessive dose of stimulants has been consumed - the reality is painful and will rapidly increase concerns relating to pulse/bp (when measured - and subsequently provides cause for panic).
 
The last time i did cocaine was about 5 weeks ago and i did real little. Maybe only a lines worth and i dont think i got high off it. It was only my like 3rd time doing it. What did happen is that my heart or my chest hurt a little. Like not painful but noticeable and the next day it went away.

Then about 3 weeks ago i was in my bio lab and my heart went nuts, it was beating really fast and real abnormal and i got real dizzy and i had to leave the room.

Ended up going to the cardiologists to be safe, had an ekg, sonagram and 24 hour ekg and thank god everything was fine and i am completely healthy. The doctor said that i probably had just like some sort of random heart hiccup and it happens occasionally and shoulnt be too worried unless it happens again.

Now my friends are doing cocaine tonight and of cource i am going to be tempted to do it, judging from all this information what do you guys think? I mean i dont know, personally im not sure if it was the cocaine that is what caused my whole 'heart episode' thing but i dont know i just dont want to die or anything.

What do you guys think?

Sorry this is so long.
 
If the doc says your fine, then go for it. Chest pains are not uncommon (at least they weren't for me) on cocaine. My heart used to beat sooo hard. I grew to like it after a while (probably not heathy).
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the perception of tachycardia, dizziness, etc., was from a panic attack. That being said, you don't know what you're getting when you use street drugs.
 
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