The effects of cocaine on the body start with speed: it pushes the whole system into overdrive. It raises heart rate and blood pressure, narrows blood vessels and kills appetite, which is why its most dangerous effects land on the heart and brain: heart attack, stroke and seizures, sometimes in young, healthy people. How you take it adds its own damage, to the nose, the lungs or the veins.
Below is what cocaine does to the body, part by part, based mainly on the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Further down there’s an honest answer to a question a lot of people search: can cocaine cause yeast infections?
What Cocaine Does Right Away
Cocaine is a stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant. NIDA says small amounts usually make people feel euphoric, energetic, talkative and mentally alert. Heart rate and blood pressure go up. Large amounts can lead to erratic or violent behavior.
Other short-term effects include dilated pupils, a higher body temperature, restlessness, anxiety, paranoia and a loss of appetite. The high is short, so people often take more and more over a night, and each round stacks more strain on the body.
Effects of Cocaine on the Heart
This is where cocaine kills most directly. NIDA says cocaine has significant, well-recognized toxic effects on the heart and blood vessels, and links it to:
- Heart attacks
- Inflammation of the heart muscle
- Ruptures of the aorta, the body’s main artery
Cocaine also raises the risk of stroke, both the kind caused by a blocked blood vessel and the kind caused by bleeding in the brain. A heart attack or stroke can happen the first time someone uses, not just after years.
Cocaine and Alcohol
Drinking while using cocaine is very common, and much more dangerous than either alone. In the body, alcohol and cocaine combine to form cocaethylene, a separate substance that may be more toxic to the heart than either drug by itself. It’s been associated with a much higher risk of sudden death. Our post on cocaine vs. alcohol looks at both drugs in more detail.
Effects by How Cocaine Is Used
Snorting: the nose and throat
NIDA says regularly snorting cocaine can lead to loss of smell, nosebleeds, trouble swallowing and a chronically inflamed, runny nose. Cocaine narrows blood vessels, so the tissue inside the nose gets less blood flow. Over time, that can damage the septum, the wall between the nostrils.
Smoking crack: the lungs
Smoking crack cocaine damages the lungs and can worsen asthma. People who smoke heavily often have coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath.
Injecting: veins and infections
Injection leaves puncture marks called tracks. NIDA warns that people who inject are at risk for HIV and hepatitis C, and shared equipment can spread other bloodborne infections too.
Other Effects on the Body
Cocaine suppresses hunger, so heavy users often lose weight and don’t get enough nutrition. Sleep suffers badly. Over time, the body runs on stress hormones and very little rest. Seizures are another serious risk, especially with large amounts.
Street cocaine is rarely pure. Levamisole, a veterinary deworming drug, is one of the most common cutting agents, and it’s been linked to its own health problems. Worse, NIDA says contamination with fentanyl is a major contributor to rising overdose deaths involving cocaine. Someone who has never used opioids has no tolerance at all.
Call 911 if someone using cocaine has chest pain, a seizure, signs of a stroke, a dangerously high temperature, or is hard to wake or breathing slowly. Give naloxone (Narcan) if opioids might be involved.
Can Cocaine Cause Yeast Infections?
There isn’t good evidence that cocaine directly causes yeast infections. We couldn’t find research from NIDA or other major health sources showing that link, and anyone who tells you there’s a simple yes is guessing.
Cocaine use can still be connected to infections in indirect ways. Heavy use often means poor sleep and poor nutrition, which can wear down the body’s ability to fight off illness. Cocaine lowers inhibitions, and risky sex raises the chance of sexually transmitted infections, some of which cause itching, discharge or irritation that can be mistaken for a yeast infection. And injecting carries its own infection risks.
If you have symptoms you think might be a yeast infection, see a doctor or clinic rather than guessing. It may be something that needs different treatment. You can be honest about drug use; it helps them help you.
Long-Term Damage and Addiction
Cocaine also changes the brain. NIDA explains that repeated use makes the reward system less sensitive to natural pleasures and makes stress systems more sensitive, so people feel worse when they’re not using. That’s what drives the cycle. If you’re trying to figure out whether use has become addiction, our post on cocaine addiction symptoms lists the signs. For how cocaine compares with other stimulants, see the most dangerous stimulants.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Covenant Hills
Covenant Hills is a Christian-based treatment center in Orange County, California, with a faith-based cocaine addiction program. NIDA notes there are no FDA-approved medications for cocaine use disorder, but behavioral therapies work, and that’s the heart of what we do: individual and group therapy in a residential setting, with a faith-based or traditional track.
If cocaine is taking a toll on your body or someone you love, call 800-662-2873 for a free, confidential assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cocaine cause yeast infections?
There’s no well-established direct link. Cocaine use can contribute to poor sleep, poor nutrition and risky sex, all of which can affect infection risk, and some STIs look like yeast infections. See a doctor for any new symptoms.
What does cocaine do to your heart?
It raises heart rate and blood pressure and narrows blood vessels. NIDA links cocaine to heart attacks, inflammation of the heart muscle and ruptures of the aorta.
What does snorting cocaine do to your nose?
Regular snorting can cause loss of smell, nosebleeds, a constantly runny or inflamed nose, trouble swallowing and damage to the septum.
Is it dangerous to mix cocaine and alcohol?
Yes. Together they form cocaethylene, which may be more toxic to the heart than either drug alone and is linked to a higher risk of sudden death.
