Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids01:24

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its effects by...
Stimulants01:29

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions01:16

Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions

Idiosyncratic drug reactions represent abnormal chemical responses that vary significantly among individuals, ranging from extreme sensitivity to low doses to insensitivity to high doses. These reactions often occur due to the drug's covalent binding with serum proteins, forming a foreign hapten that triggers an immunotoxicological response. The variability in drug reactions has a strong pharmacogenetic foundation, with genetic differences crucial in how individuals metabolize drugs. For...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Gender equality and equity in intensive care: an international Delphi consensus study.

Intensive care medicine·2026
Same author

Executive Summary: Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines for the Allocation of Critical Care Resources to Adults During Crisis-Level Shortages.

Critical care medicine·2026
Same author

Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines for the Allocation of Critical Care Resources to Adults During Crisis-Level Shortages.

Critical care medicine·2026
Same author

Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society.

Neurocritical care·2023
Same author

Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society.

Circulation·2023
Same author

Poisons and Patients.

Critical care clinics·2021
Same journal

Critical Care and Contagion: Evolving Frontiers of Infectious Diseases in the Modern Intensive Care Unit.

Critical care clinics·2026
Same journal

Advances and Challenges in Sepsis Care in Low-Resource Settings.

Critical care clinics·2026
Same journal

The Respiratory Triple Pandemic in the Intensive Care Unit: Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Management of COVID-19, Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Critical care clinics·2026
Same journal

Antibiotic Stewardship for the Intensivist.

Critical care clinics·2026
Same journal

Infection Prevention and Control in the Intensive Care Unit.

Critical care clinics·2026
Same journal

Antibiotic Considerations in the Critically Ill: Empiric Choices and Dosing.

Critical care clinics·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
10:28

Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice

Published on: February 18, 2016

Cocaine intoxication.

Janice L Zimmerman1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. janicez@tmhs.org

Critical Care Clinics
|September 25, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cocaine abuse, via various methods, causes severe adverse effects and organ toxicity. This drug impacts all body systems, leading to potentially fatal complications like stroke and heart attack.

More Related Videos

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
07:51

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder

Published on: June 18, 2018

Reinstatement of Drug-seeking in Mice Using the Conditioned Place Preference Paradigm
08:29

Reinstatement of Drug-seeking in Mice Using the Conditioned Place Preference Paradigm

Published on: June 7, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
10:28

Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice

Published on: February 18, 2016

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
07:51

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder

Published on: June 18, 2018

Reinstatement of Drug-seeking in Mice Using the Conditioned Place Preference Paradigm
08:29

Reinstatement of Drug-seeking in Mice Using the Conditioned Place Preference Paradigm

Published on: June 7, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Cocaine is a widely abused illicit drug derived from the coca plant.
  • Abuse occurs through inhalation, nasal insufflation, and intravenous injection.
  • Adverse effects stem from its anesthetic, vasoconstrictive, sympathomimetic, psychoactive, and prothrombotic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted adverse effects of cocaine abuse.
  • To highlight the organ systems affected by cocaine toxicity.
  • To detail severe complications associated with cocaine use.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cocaine's pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms.
  • Analysis of clinical presentations resulting from organ toxicity.
  • Compilation of severe complications reported in medical literature.

Main Results:

  • Cocaine affects all major body systems.
  • Clinical manifestations are often due to direct organ toxicity.
  • Severe complications include seizures, strokes, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, rhabdomyolysis, mesenteric ischemia, acute kidney injury, and multiple organ failure.

Conclusions:

  • Cocaine abuse poses a significant threat due to its widespread systemic effects.
  • Understanding the diverse toxicological mechanisms is crucial for managing complications.
  • Prompt recognition and treatment of cocaine-induced organ damage are vital for patient outcomes.