cocaine
Sign in to saveCocaine is a stimulant of the central nervous system and tropane alkaloid, derived primarily from the leaves of two coca species native to South America: Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense. The leaves are processed into cocaine paste, a crude mixture of coca alkaloids, from which cocaine base is isolated and then converted to cocaine hydrochloride. Although total synthesis is possible, it is complex and not used for production. Historically, cocaine was a standard topical medication used as a local anesthetic with intrinsic vasoconstrictor properties. However, its high abuse potential, ad
AI overview
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug derived from coca plant leaves native to South America, historically used in medicine as a local anesthetic but now primarily known for its high potential for abuse and addiction. It matters because of its significant impact on public health and drug policy, given its addictive properties and the widespread illicit drug trade built around it.
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Key facts
- Drug.legal_DE
- Anlage III
- Drug.image
- Kokain - Cocaine.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.image2
- Cocaine-from-xtal-1983-3D-balls.png
- Drug.image_class2
- bg-transparent
- Drug.pronounce
- kə(ʊ)ˈkeɪn
- Drug.tradename
- Neurocaine, Goprelto, Numbrino, others
- Drug.DailyMedID
- Cocaine
- Drug.dependency_liability
- Physical: Low Psychological: High
- Drug.addiction_liability
- High
- Drug.routes_of_administration
- Topical, by mouth, insufflation, intravenous, inhalation
- Drug.ATC_prefix
- N01
Article
83 sectionsContents
- Uses
- Traditional medicine
- Coca leaves
- Coca tea
- Ypadu
- Medical
- Topical
- Topical anesthetic
- Ophthalmological use
- Recreational
- Insufflation
- Cocaine spoon
- Injection
- Inhalation
- Cocaine paste
- Crack cocaine
- Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Adverse effects
- Cardiac complications
- Levamisole syndromes
- Levamisole-induced necrosis syndrome
- Cocaine/levamisole-associated syndromes
- Cocaine- and levamisole-induced vasculitis
- Cocaine/levamisole-associated autoimmune syndrome
- Mortality
- Neurotoxicity
- Psychiatric symptoms
- Psychosis
- Short-term effects
- Long-term effects
- Addiction
- Dependence and withdrawal
- Treatment
- Cocaine nose
- Cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions
- Causes
- Treatment
- Overdose
- Interactions
- Alcohol
- MAOIs
- Opioids
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacokinetics
- Detection in the body
- Body fluids
- Hair
- Pharmacodynamics
- Chemistry
- Forms
- Synthesis
- Total synthesis
- Biosynthesis
- GMO synthesis
- Field analysis
- Society and culture
- Street names
- Legal status
- Australia
- United States
- Prevalence and trends
- Impact
- Impact of illicit cocaine
- Impact on impoverished communities
- Environmental impact
- Impact of illicit cocaine trade
- Latin America
- West Africa
- Impact of enforcement
- Impact of coca eradication
- Impact of interdiction
- Research
- Cocaine vaccines
- Calixcoca
- TA-CD
- History
- Etymology
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Cocaine is a stimulant of the central nervous system and tropane alkaloid, derived primarily from the leaves of two coca species native to South America: Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense. The leaves are processed into cocaine paste, a crude mixture of coca alkaloids, from which cocaine base is isolated and then converted to cocaine hydrochloride. Although total synthesis is possible, it is complex and not used for production. Historically, cocaine was a standard topical medication used as a local anesthetic with intrinsic vasoconstrictor properties. However, its high abuse potential, adverse effects, and cost have limited its medical use and led to its replacement by alternative medicines.
Street cocaine is commonly snorted, injected, or smoked as crack cocaine; its effects last up to 90 minutes depending on the route of administration. Pharmacologically, cocaine acts as a serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI), producing reinforcing effects such as euphoria, increased alertness, concentration, libido, and reduced fatigue and appetite.