Cocaine, one of the most commonly used illegal drugs, can cause toxic effects, including dangerous cardiovascular events. Cocaine increases heart rate, blood pressure, and the force of the heart’s contractions, which can raise the risk of certain heart problems.
Cardiovascular conditions associated with cocaine use include:
Cocaine use can produce a variety of potentially catastrophic cardiovascular problems, which may be sudden and severe or may become long-term. Worse, these problems may occur even in people whose cocaine exposure is limited to occasional, recreational usage.
Cardiac Effects of Cocaine
Cocaine is a drug that inhibits the reuptake ofnorepinephrinein neurons throughout the body. Norepinephrine is a powerful neurotransmitter within the sympathetic nervous system, and when its reuptake is inhibited, the sympathetic nervous activity becomes greatly exaggerated and prolonged.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
The exaggerated sympathetic nervous activity has profound effects on the cardiovascular system. It substantially increases the force of the heart muscle as it contracts, and at the same time, it raises the heart rate and the blood pressure. These factors all greatly increase the work of the heart, and therefore the demand of the heart for oxygen and nutrients.
In addition, cocaine promotes blood clotting within blood vessels, which limits blood flow to vital organs—including the heart.
A Bad Combination of EffectsWhile it creates a greatly increased cardiac need for oxygen, cocaine simultaneously restricts blood flow to the heart muscle, restricting the amount of oxygen that can be delivered. The cardiovascular system thus becomes extremely stressed.
A Bad Combination of Effects
While it creates a greatly increased cardiac need for oxygen, cocaine simultaneously restricts blood flow to the heart muscle, restricting the amount of oxygen that can be delivered. The cardiovascular system thus becomes extremely stressed.
Resulting Cardiovascular Conditions
Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)is a well-known complication of cocaine use, and can occur with any dose of cocaine, and even in first-time users. Most cocaine-induced heart attacks occur within a few hours of using the drug.
One study found that among a sample of more than 9,000 adults aged 18–45, cocaine users were almost seven times as likely to have a non-fatal heart attack.Another study found that among a sample of heart attack patients 39–48 years old, cocaine users were about twice as likely to die.
Aortic Dissection
Acute aortic dissection—a sudden tearing of the wall of the aorta—is an extremely painful and life-threatening condition. While there are many causes of aortic dissection, in young people cocaine use is a prevalent cause.
Coronary Artery Aneurysm
Coronary artery aneurysms are balloon-like dilations of coronary arteries. They are fairly common in cocaine users, with one study finding them in about 30% of cocaine users, vs. less than 8% among non-users.Coronary artery aneurysms are a cause of heart attack.
Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy
Cocaine causesmyocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle. Myocarditis can lead to damage of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). As a result,heart failuremay occur.
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Cocaine can induce a variety of difficult-to-treatcardiac arrhythmias, including the potentially fatal arrhythmias calledventricular tachycardiaandventricular fibrillation.
Stroke
Due to its effect on blood vessels, blood pressure, and blood clotting, stroke is up to seven times more likely in a cocaine user than a non-user.
Treatment Complications
In general, the treatment of cocaine-induced cardiovascular problems is similar to the treatment of those same cardiac problems when cocaine use is not a factor. However, cocaine use complicates therapy in a few important ways.
Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers should not be used in patients currently under the influence of cocaine. Beta-blockers are very important for the treatment of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, angina, and heart failure.
However, in people who have taken cocaine, beta-blockers (which block beta-sympathetic effects of norepinephrine) “uncover” the alpha-sympathetic effects, leading to more constriction of the small arteries, and higher blood pressure. This takes a critical treatment tool out of the doctors’ hands when they are dealing with a heart attack.
What Do Beta-Blockers Treat and How Do They Work?
Clot-Busting Drugs
When treating what appears to be an acute heart attack, the use of clot-busting drugs—drugs that produce fibrinolysis—should generally not be employed in a cocaine-user without first doing a cardiac catheterization.
This is because the electrocardiogram (ECG) changes that typically indicate that an acute heart attack is occurring may be seen in cocaine users who are actually not having a heart attack due to a blocked artery.
Stents
Doctors are reluctant to usestents to treat coronary artery diseasein cocaine users because stent thrombosis (clotting off of the stent) is much higher in these people.
A Word From Verywell
The use of cocaine can place enormous stress on the heart and the vascular system and can lead to several significant cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, because of the multitude of negative effects on human physiology, treatment options are limited in people who have cocaine-induced cardiovascular disorders.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim S, Park T.Acute and chronic effects of cocaine on cardiovascular health.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(3):584. doi:10.3390/ijms20030584Kozor R, Grieve SM, Buchholz S, et al.Regular cocaine use is associated with increased systolic blood pressure, aortic stiffness and left ventricular mass in young otherwise healthy individuals.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(4):e89710. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089710Havakuk O, Rezkalla SH, Kloner RA.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014Qureshi AI, Chaudhry SA, Suri MF.Cocaine use and the likelihood of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality follow-up study.J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2014;7(1):76-82.DeFilippis EM, Singh A, Divakaran S, et al.Cocaine and marijuana use among young adults with myocardial infarction.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(22):2540-2551. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.02.047Dean JH, Woznicki EM, O’Gara P, et al.Cocaine-related aortic dissection: lessons from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection.Am J Med. 2014;127(9):878-885. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.05.005Cheng YC, Ryan KA, Qadwai SA, et al.Cocaine use and risk of ischemic stroke in young adults.Stroke. 2016;47(4):918-22. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011417Amsterdam EA, Wenger NK, Brindis RG, et al.2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(24):e139-e228. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.017Additional ReadingSingh V, Rodriguez AP, Thakkar B, et al.Hospital admissions for chest pain associated with cocaine use in the United States.Am J Med. 2017;130(6):688-698. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.12.003
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim S, Park T.Acute and chronic effects of cocaine on cardiovascular health.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(3):584. doi:10.3390/ijms20030584Kozor R, Grieve SM, Buchholz S, et al.Regular cocaine use is associated with increased systolic blood pressure, aortic stiffness and left ventricular mass in young otherwise healthy individuals.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(4):e89710. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089710Havakuk O, Rezkalla SH, Kloner RA.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014Qureshi AI, Chaudhry SA, Suri MF.Cocaine use and the likelihood of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality follow-up study.J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2014;7(1):76-82.DeFilippis EM, Singh A, Divakaran S, et al.Cocaine and marijuana use among young adults with myocardial infarction.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(22):2540-2551. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.02.047Dean JH, Woznicki EM, O’Gara P, et al.Cocaine-related aortic dissection: lessons from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection.Am J Med. 2014;127(9):878-885. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.05.005Cheng YC, Ryan KA, Qadwai SA, et al.Cocaine use and risk of ischemic stroke in young adults.Stroke. 2016;47(4):918-22. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011417Amsterdam EA, Wenger NK, Brindis RG, et al.2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(24):e139-e228. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.017Additional ReadingSingh V, Rodriguez AP, Thakkar B, et al.Hospital admissions for chest pain associated with cocaine use in the United States.Am J Med. 2017;130(6):688-698. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.12.003
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kim S, Park T.Acute and chronic effects of cocaine on cardiovascular health.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(3):584. doi:10.3390/ijms20030584Kozor R, Grieve SM, Buchholz S, et al.Regular cocaine use is associated with increased systolic blood pressure, aortic stiffness and left ventricular mass in young otherwise healthy individuals.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(4):e89710. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089710Havakuk O, Rezkalla SH, Kloner RA.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014Qureshi AI, Chaudhry SA, Suri MF.Cocaine use and the likelihood of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality follow-up study.J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2014;7(1):76-82.DeFilippis EM, Singh A, Divakaran S, et al.Cocaine and marijuana use among young adults with myocardial infarction.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(22):2540-2551. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.02.047Dean JH, Woznicki EM, O’Gara P, et al.Cocaine-related aortic dissection: lessons from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection.Am J Med. 2014;127(9):878-885. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.05.005Cheng YC, Ryan KA, Qadwai SA, et al.Cocaine use and risk of ischemic stroke in young adults.Stroke. 2016;47(4):918-22. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011417Amsterdam EA, Wenger NK, Brindis RG, et al.2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(24):e139-e228. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.017
Kim S, Park T.Acute and chronic effects of cocaine on cardiovascular health.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(3):584. doi:10.3390/ijms20030584
Kozor R, Grieve SM, Buchholz S, et al.Regular cocaine use is associated with increased systolic blood pressure, aortic stiffness and left ventricular mass in young otherwise healthy individuals.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(4):e89710. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089710
Havakuk O, Rezkalla SH, Kloner RA.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014
Qureshi AI, Chaudhry SA, Suri MF.Cocaine use and the likelihood of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality follow-up study.J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2014;7(1):76-82.
DeFilippis EM, Singh A, Divakaran S, et al.Cocaine and marijuana use among young adults with myocardial infarction.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(22):2540-2551. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.02.047
Dean JH, Woznicki EM, O’Gara P, et al.Cocaine-related aortic dissection: lessons from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection.Am J Med. 2014;127(9):878-885. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.05.005
Cheng YC, Ryan KA, Qadwai SA, et al.Cocaine use and risk of ischemic stroke in young adults.Stroke. 2016;47(4):918-22. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011417
Amsterdam EA, Wenger NK, Brindis RG, et al.2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(24):e139-e228. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.017
Singh V, Rodriguez AP, Thakkar B, et al.Hospital admissions for chest pain associated with cocaine use in the United States.Am J Med. 2017;130(6):688-698. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.12.003
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