Human performance effects cocaine

Research studies on human performance have typically involved the administration of cocaine and d-amphetamine in single doses that do not produce toxic psychosis. In the studies reviewed, d-amphetamine was administered orally (PO). Given that the performance effects of D-amphetamine have been studied for more than 60 years and its widespread use during World War II,24 it is not surprising that much is known about the effects of D-amphetamine on vigilance and attention. However, the effect of psychostimulants on higher-order cognitive processes has not been widely studied. 

Isenschmid DS (2002) Cocaine—effects on human performance and behavior. Forensic Sci Rev 14 61... 

Higgins, S.T. et al., Effects of intranasal cocaine on human learning, performance and physiology, Psychopharmacology, 102, 451, 1990. 

The cardiac effects of intracoronary infusion of cocaine have been studied in dogs and humans (42). The procedure can be performed safely and does not alter coronary arterial blood flow. The effects of direct intracoronary infusion of cocaine on left ventricle systolic and diastolic performance have been studied in 20 patients referred for cardiac catheterization for evaluation of chest pain. They were given saline or cocaine hydrochloride (1 mg/minute) in 15-minute intracoronary infusions, and cardiac measurements were made during the final 2-3 minutes of each infusion. The blood cocaine concentration obtained from the coronary sinus was 3.0 pg/ml, which is similar in magnitude to the blood-cocaine concentration reported in abusers who die of cocaine intoxication. Minimal systemic effects were produced. The overall results were that cocaine caused measurable deterioration of left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance. 

The analysis of cocaine and its metabolites has been performed by means of GC-MS, but this demands extensive sample pretreatment and derivatization. LC-MS has been evaluated as an alternative. Simultaneous LC-ESI-MS and fluorescence detection of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and cocaethylene in human hair was described by Clauwaert et al. [84]. The effect of mobile-phase composition and pH on the ESI LC-MS performance of cocaine, ecgoitine methyl ester, and benzoylecgoitine was investigated by Jeanville et al. [85]. The best sensitivity was achieved with a 1 1 mixture of 60% acetonitrile-40% acetone in 100 mmol/1 ammonium acetate. The pH has little influence on the response, suggesting that gas-phase rather than liquid-phase ionization is important. 

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