Cocaine Overdose: Signs and Treatment

People who use cocaine seek a state of euphoria that only lasts a few minutes at a time. Over time, individual tolerance builds, and chasing the euphoria can evolve into consuming too much. Cocaine overdose is a realistic threat and can pose serious risks to your health. Cocaine overdose treatment is available and can keep you from ending up in a life-threatening situation.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug derived from the coca plant and used nasally via snorting or rubbing on the gums. It can also be smoked in the form of “crack.” Taking cocaine, or “coke,” drastically increases the dopamine levels in the brain. The reward or pleasure centers in the brain are activated, causing the user to want more of the drug, both in the same instance or over time.

Cocaine is widely available and used by many people; however, it doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Read on to learn more about cocaine overdose and how to get the help you need.

Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Overdose

Cocaine overdoses involve disturbing psychological experiences as well as physical symptoms that can be pretty harmful. Because some of the symptoms overlap with other common health concerns, it can be difficult to know right away if someone else is overdosing on cocaine without context.

Signs and symptoms vary from moderate to severe intensity and include:

Rapid and irregular heartbeat
Elevated blood pressure levels
Severe chest pain
Significant increase in body temperature
Impaired or rapid breathing
Intense headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Dilated pupils
Tremors and muscle twitching
Extreme agitation or anxiety
Paranoia and hallucinations
Severe confusion
Prolonged unconsciousness
Severe abdominal pain
Excessive sweating
Pale or bluish skin color

Stages of Cocaine Overdose

Overdose is not as simple as someone ingesting too much of a substance; instead, a cocaine overdose can occur in stages that further complicate the process. Someone who uses cocaine doesn’t immediately feel the negative parts or the typical “come down” feeling from taking a heavy-hitting stimulant.

Here are the typical cocaine overdose stages, illustrating how the severity of symptoms increases over time. Recognizing these stages can help in seeking timely medical intervention.

1. Early Stage

The initial stage of cocaine use involves intense feelings of pleasure and euphoria, which is what most users are seeking. Energy is increased, and alertness is heightened. If you were to check vital signs during this stage, you’d notice elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Pupils will be enlarged, causing eye sensitivity. The person is restless and fidgety.

2. Moderate Stage

The next stage involves an increase in nervousness and anxiety. Paranoia and noticeable hyperactivity show up. The person gets progressively more chatty and can’t seem to relax. They may also get sick and vomit at this stage.

Muscles are twitchy, and tremors in the hands and feet are apparent, maybe even by people other than the person using coke. Many people will have severe headaches due to elevated blood pressure. Chest pain or discomfort may also occur.

The moderate stage is when severe symptoms happen that may warrant medical care.

3. Severe Stage

With the severe stage, psychological symptoms like paranoia worsen, and hallucinations or mistrust of others are apparent. The person who overdosed is at risk of seizure due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It’s clear the person is distressed at this point: rapid breathing and a skyrocketing body temperature can cause overheating or even cardiac issues.

4. Critical Stage

At this point, the person who overdosed is in a critical state and needs emergency help. They may have lost consciousness and are at risk of slipping into a coma. This stage can be scary: the person is likely not responsive to external stimuli. The excess of cocaine creates an enormous strain on the body, and the heart, kidneys, or liver may begin to shut down. In extreme circumstances, the overdose can be fatal.

How Much Cocaine Does it Take to Overdose?

The amount of cocaine that can cause an overdose varies widely. People who regularly use cocaine and have a higher tolerance might overdose on amounts exceeding 5 grams, although this can vary widely.

For someone without a tolerance to cocaine, as little as 20-30 mg could potentially be harmful. However, doses around 1-1.5 grams are most frequently in the overdose range.

For reference, someone snorting cocaine would likely use a tiny fraction of a gram at one time.

Factors that Impact How Much Cocaine It Takes to Overdose

The amount of cocaine consumed matters with overdose. Other variables also play a role. The following factors can affect how quickly an overdose can happen:

Tolerance – Regular users often require more significant amounts to feel the same effects, increasing the risk of overdose.
Purity and form of cocaine – Purer forms or additional toxic substances can increase cocaine overdose risk.
Method of use – Smoking or injecting cocaine can deliver the drug more rapidly to the brain, increasing the risk of overdose compared to snorting.
Body weight and metabolic rate – Individuals with lower body weight or slower metabolism may be more susceptible to overdose, even at lower doses.
Using more than one substance – Mixing cocaine with other substances, especially depressants like alcohol or opioids, can increase the overdose risk.

Cocaine Overdose Risks

Cocaine overdose presents significant risks. With overdose come severe and potentially fatal effects. Cocaine can cause constriction of the blood vessels, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart and increasing the risk of a heart attack. Elevated blood pressure can lead to strokes or other cardiovascular complications. The constriction of blood vessels can also reduce blood flow to the brain, leading to seizures and strokes.

Cocaine Overdose Treatment

Cocaine overdose treatment involves immediate medical intervention to manage symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications. Medical personnel will monitor the individual’s vital signs to ensure safe heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels. Oxygen may be given to ensure adequate oxygenation of tissues and organs.

Cocaine doesn’t have a remedy for accidental overdose, like naloxone for opioid overdose. However, specific medications can manage severe symptoms as cocaine leaves the body. Benzodiazepines help reduce high heart rate and can regulate blood pressure. Anticonvulsant medications help prevent or control seizures.

Additional support for cocaine overdose treatment includes cooling blankets and ice packs to lower rising body temperature. In severe cases, intubation and mechanical ventilation support a person’s breathing. Additionally, IV fluids are given in medical settings to support the liver and prevent kidney damage while the person is continuously monitored.

What To Do If Someone Overdoses on Cocaine

Call emergency services (911) immediately and inform the responders about the suspected cocaine use.
Keep the person awake and conscious if possible.
Be prepared to perform CPR if the person becomes unresponsive or stops breathing.
Do not give the person any more drugs or alcohol.
Ensure the person is in a safe place where they cannot harm themselves.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

While cocaine use has been normalized in recent years, it continues to be a harmful substance. The potential for cocaine overdose is present, and over time, addiction can take over your life as your tolerance for the drug increases.

The good news is there is help for cocaine addiction. Vogue Recovery Center can help, and our medical treatment staff is ready to assist. Most people enter a medical detox, and then we will create an individualized plan for their journey to sustained sobriety.

If you or a loved one are ready to take steps toward sobriety, contact Vogue Recovery Center today. Our admission specialists will help you learn more about what programs are available and appropriate for your needs. Lasting recovery is possible with proper guidance and person-centered support.