Cocaine addition history

Increased oxygen demand secondary to increased heart rates and blood pressure has been hypothesized to lead to myocardial infarction (especially in patients with fixed coronary disease) and/or ventricular arrhythmias. In patients with no history of cardiac disease, cocaine is thought to induce acute isehemie complications via vasospasm of the coronaries (Ascher et al. 1988). In addition, Virmani et al. (1988) have reported a 20 percent incidence of myocarditis thought to be secondary to accumulated microvascular injuries. 

Dopamine-Stimulating Medications. A variety of drugs that increase the availability of dopamine have been studied in cocaine addicts including L-DOPA, bupropion, amantadine, and methylphenidate. In small uncontrolled trials, these have shown some benefit, but definitive studies have yet to be performed. In addition, some dopamine-stimulating medications (in particular, the stimulants like methylphenidate or the amphetamines) are themselves subject to abuse, though, of note, this is typically not a problem when they are prescribed to patients who do not have a history of substance abuse such as, for example, in the treatment of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. 

AMPHETAMINES BUPROPION 1. t plasma concentrations of these substrates, with risk of toxic effects 2. t risk of seizures. This risk is marked in elderly people, patients with a history of seizures, those with an addiction to opiates/ cocaine/stimulants, and those with diabetes treated with oral hypoglycaemics or insulin 1. Bupropion and its metabolite hydroxybupropion inhibit CYP2D6 2. Bupropion is associated with a dose-related risk of seizures. These drugs that lower seizure threshold are individually epileptogenic. They have additive effects when combined 1. Initiate therapy with these drugs, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index, at the lowest effective dose. Interaction is likely to be important with substrates for which CYP2D6 is considered the only metabolic pathway (e.g. amphetamines) 2. Extreme caution. The dose of bupropion should not exceed 450 mg/day (or 150 mg/day in those with severe hepatic cirrhosis)... 

Of 279 patients who presented to a hospital emergency service between 1994 and 1998 with a first tonic-clonic seizure, 17 (6.1%) had seizures that were thought to be drug-related (5). The most common drug-induced causes were cocaine intoxication (6/17) and benzodiazepine withdrawal (5/17) followed by amfebutamone use (4/17). While one amfebutamone-associated seizure occurred in a 26-year-old woman without any other risk factors, the three other patients (all women) had additional risk factors, such as concomitant treatment with antidepressants that also lower seizure threshold and a history of bulimia nervosa. These results suggest that amfebutamone is not an infrequent cause of de novo seizures. However, because of the time frame of the study, many of the patients would have been taking standard-release amfebutamone. It would be of interest to repeat the study now that modified-release amfebutamone is available. 

Cocaine has a very interesting history. The coca plant was used by South American Indians for religious and mystical purposes and as a stimulant both to increase endurance and to alleviate hunger. It was introduced into Europe during the 1800s, and at the end of the 19th century, cocaine use was popular and socially acceptable. Various cocaine-containing preparations were available, and it also was used to fortify wines (e.g., Vin Coca). For a period of approximately 20 years, until just after the turn of the century, it was a constituent of the soft drink Coca-Cola. Additionally, cocaine was used for therapeutic reasons but was later supplanted by amphetamine. 

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