Preview

Side Effects of Chronic Cocaine Use

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
532 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Side Effects of Chronic Cocaine Use
Chronic

Side effects of chronic cocaine use

Cocaine hydrochloride
Chronic cocaine intake causes brain cells to adapt functionally to strong imbalances of transmitter levels in order to compensate extremes. Thus, receptors disappear from the cell surface or reappear on it, resulting more or less in an "off" or "working mode" respectively, or they change their susceptibility for binding partners (ligands) – mechanisms called down-/upregulation. However, studies suggest cocaine abusers do not show normal age-related loss of striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) sites, suggesting cocaine has neuroprotective properties for dopamine neurons.[13] The experience of insatiable hunger, aches, insomnia/oversleeping, lethargy, and persistent runny nose are often described as very unpleasant. Depression with suicidal ideation may develop in very heavy users. Finally, a loss of vesicular monoamine transporters, neurofilament proteins, and other morphological changes appear to indicate a long term damage of dopamine neurons. All these effects contribute a rise in tolerance thus requiring a larger dosage to achieve the same effect.[14]
The lack of normal amounts of serotonin and dopamine in the brain is the cause of the dysphoria and depression felt after the initial high. Physical withdrawal is not dangerous, and is in fact restorative. Physiological changes caused by cocaine withdrawal include vivid and unpleasant dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite and psychomotor retardation or agitation.[15]
Physical side effects from chronic smoking of cocaine include hemoptysis, bronchospasm, pruritus, fever, diffuse alveolar infiltrates without effusions, pulmonary and systemic eosinophilia, chest pain, lung trauma, sore throat, asthma, hoarse voice, dyspnea (shortness of breath), and an aching, flu-like syndrome. Cocaine constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils, and increases body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can also cause headaches and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Dopamine can also play a role in addictive behaviors, and cocaine is a severe drug in addiction (Depue& Collins, 1999). Cocaine inhibits the natural order of dopamine. Once the dopamine is set free, it is reused into a dopamine transmitting neuron. Cocaine binds to the dopamine, and does not allow it to be reused. This causes an increase of dopamine and overflows specific neural areas, the overflow stops after a half hour, and the person is feeling the way he or she did before, and this is how the addiction begins (Stocker, 1999).…

    • 1921 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Methamphetamine quickly affects the brain when either injected or smoked. Within seconds the user will feel a surge of euphoria from an increase in dopamine levels in the brain making the user feel full of energy. Methamphetamine not only stimulates the release of dopamine into the synaptic space, but also prevents neurons from recycling after it is released. This allows the feel of euphoria to persist in the body for an extended period of time. Some of the immediate physical effects of methamphetamine use include: excessive energy, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, decreased appetite, increased respiration, and increased body temperature. Abusers will develop a tolerance to methamphetamines when taken repeatedly, and will modify how they take it in order to replicate the desired effect of euphoria. Addiction is one of the most common consequences of long-term abuse of methamphetamines. Some of the common symptoms of chronic abusers include: increased anxiety, insomnia, alteration in mood, and violent behavior. Methamphetamine abusers can also exhibit signs of psychotic behavior including: hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. These symptoms can exist for years after a person has stopped using methamphetamines, and can reoccur by periods of extreme stress. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can have significant changes to brain structure and function especially those areas associated with memory and emotion. There is also reduced binding of dopamine to its transport protein within the area of the striatum which is important for movement and memory. Studies have shown that some of the neurobiological effects of methamphetamine abuse appear to be somewhat reversible but can take years. There is an increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease among previous users of methamphetamine. Some users suffer severe physical effects due to years of abuse including noticeable tooth decay, weight loss, and severe skin sores from excessive scratching at skin…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What are some short-term effects of using cocaine? Some short-term effects of using cocaine are as follows: Constricted blood vessels, increases blood pressure and heart rate. It also produces feelings of euphoria as well as anxiety, depression, and excitement. It can also cause seizures and even an overdose. Other effects are increased temperature, and dilated pupils, nervousness, and some paranoia. It produces a feeling of increased energy and well-being. Long-term effects include erratic, delusional or paranoid paranoia. Smoking crack cocaine can produce a particularly aggressive paranoid behavior in users. When addicted individuals stop using cocaine, they often become depressed. Prolonged cocaine snorting can result in ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose. Acute cocaine poisoning leads to profound CNS stimulations, progressing to convulsions, which can lead to respiratory or cardic arrest.…

    • 2553 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Cmpare and Cntrast Essay

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Crack and cocaine have three similar effects on the body. Although crack is heat resistant and cocaine is damaged by heat, both cause hypertension. Also, crack and cocaine bring about physical and mental damage, depending on pre-existing conditions and the amount of drug used. Hallucination, insanity, paranoia and aggressive behavior can occur, and an overdose of either may cause heart failure or a seizure. Finally, use of both drugs can lead to addiction.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    But, the increase in productivity comes at a price most of the users are not aware of. It not only affects the body during the use of the drug but also leaves some long-lasting effects. It increases the chances of critical cardiovascular problems, depression, hostility and paranoia. Since, it is a habit-forming drug, it causes physical and psychological dependence.…

    • 1969 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Life of Cocaine

    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages

    No, we should not count on drugs in dealing with osteoporosis because we will tend to forget the little things in the end which truly help us maintain strong and healthy bones, such as lifting weights and eating healthy. Many will use this as an excuse so that they may not have to…

    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This source is part of “The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs: Series 2” and explains the effect of using drugs on the brain. In depth, the source talks about how the brain works, and how the use of various drugs affects the brain. One section in the book is about using stimulants, specifically amphetamine and cocaine, and how it may affect the brain. It’s not just the bad affects on the brain, it also talks about some of the good affects the drugs may put upon the brain,…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The brain is the control station of the body. It is in control of everything you do, it even is hard at work while you sleep. Just like any other control or command center, the many parts that make up the brain must work together as a team. When drugs come into the brain, they interrupt the work and change how the brain then performs its job. These alterations can lead to compulsive drug use. Physical changes within the brain are linked to chronic substance abuse having a major impact on the brains functioning and emotional disarrays. Drugs are chemicals, which access the brains communication system and interfere with the method nerve cells send, receive and process information. “Some drugs can change the brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking drugs, maybe even permanently. This is more likely when a drug is taken repeatedly” (NIDA, 2011,para 6). Some drugs can copycat a natural neurotransmitter sending abnormal messages through the brain. They can also causes nerve cells to discharge excessive amounts which can eventually cause confusion on the…

    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Butelman, B., Leveron, O., Kreek, M., Schulessman, S., Yan, Y., (Oct., 2012). Opiate Addiction and Cocaine Addiction: Underlying Molecular Neurobiology and Genetics. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 122(10), 3387-3389…

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Taken in small amounts, cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. It can also temporarily decrease the need for food and sleep. Some users find that the drug helps them perform simple physical and intellectual tasks more quickly, although others experience the opposite effect.…

    • 1509 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Schedule 2 Drugs

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Consumption of cocaine and methamphetamine will induce wakefulness, increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, hyperthermia, euphoria. Effects of methamphetamine include irritability, insomnia, confusion, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Since it is known that it is difficult for nerve cells to be regenerated after having been damaged, it is a clear indication that use of this drug in small or large quantities, cause irreversible damages in the CNS. This observation was reported in a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which also found that individuals who have a long history of abuse have reduced levels in dopamine transporters, which are associated with slowed motor skills and weakened memories in the individuals. (2)…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There have been questions regarding cocaine along the lines of “Aren’t crack cocaine and powder cocaine the same drug?” and the answer is yes. Do they result in the same penalties under the court of law if caught possessing such drugs? Well, in a way, both yes and no. The same penalties are given for the same conviction, however, both must meet different requirements in order for the same punishment to be given.…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Drug addiction is a medical disease characterized by biochemical changes in brain chemistry that play a significant role in the physical symptoms of addiction, including cravings, seeking, withdrawal, and the persistent use even in the face of negative consequences. Whatever the drug of choice, its abuse can be identified by the maladaptive way in which it takes over the user's life, disrupting his or her relationships, daily functioning, and mental state. Drug addiction can be physical and/or psychological. Physical addiction characterized by tolerance and withdrawal, while psychological dependence consists of the user's need of the drug to maintain mental well-being. The signs and symptoms of drug addiction are tolerance, withdrawal, inability to stop using, preoccupation with using, giving up of or reducing activities that were once enjoyable, failure to…

    • 2028 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Jimi Hendrix

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Psychoactive substances, such as cocaine, mock symptoms of manic depression. Cocaine provides a feeling of “increased confidence” (Ryan, 2013, p 102). Withdrawal from this psychoactive substance can manifest itself as a depression, change in eating habits as well as thoughts of suicide. Addiction to cocaine changes the way the brain is wired and weakens the user physically and mentally (Ryan, 2013, p 103).…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    NIDA Substance Abuse

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages

    A substance abuse addiction can be described in many ways. The NIDA states that a “drug addiction is a chronic disease”. People abuse drugs despite the many consequences that it can have, especially changes in their brain. The start of any drug addictions begins with the use of taking drugs over time. After taking drugs for an extended period of time, it becomes a compulsive behavior that has major long-term affects on your brain function (NIDA, 2016).…

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics