What Happens If You Do Cocaine Once: Side Effects & Risks

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat Happens After Using Cocaine Once?

Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.D., M.S., FASCP — Written by Tim Jewell on September 10, 2019

How cocaine affects you
Side effects after initial use
Prolonged use
Overdose
Seeking medical help
Summary

Cocaine is a stimulant drug. It can be snorted, injected, or smoked. Some other names for cocaine include:

coke
blow
powder
crack

Cocaine has a long history in medicine. Doctors used it as a pain reliever before anesthesia was invented.

Today, cocaine is a Schedule II stimulant, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This means it’s illegal to use cocaine for recreational use in the United States.

Cocaine may provide a fleeting feeling of intense excitement. But the possible complications of using it outweigh its temporary effects.

Let’s look at how cocaine can affect you after one or many uses, what to do in case you or someone you know overdoses, and how to reach out for treatment for a cocaine addiction.

What does cocaine do?

Cocaine affects everyone differently. Some people report feeling intense euphoria, while others report sensations of anxiety, pain, and hallucinations.

The key ingredient in cocaine, the coca leaf (Erythroxylum coca), is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system (CNS).

When cocaine enters the body, it causes a buildup of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s linked to feelings of reward and pleasure.

This buildup of dopamine is central to cocaine’s potential for misuse. Because the body may seek to fulfill the newfound craving for this dopamine reward, the brain’s neurochemistry can be changed, leading to a substance use disorder.

What happens if you try cocaine once?

Because cocaine affects the CNS, there’s a wide variety of side effects that can result.

Here are some commonly reported side effects after initial use of cocaine:

bloody nose
trouble breathing
abnormal heart rhythms
chest pain
dilated pupils
inability to get or keep an erection
insomnia
restlessness or anxiety
paranoia
tremors
dizziness
muscle spasms
abdominal pain
stiffness in the back or spine
nausea
diarrhea
extremely low blood pressure

In rare cases, cocaine may lead to sudden death after its first use. This is often due to cardiac arrest or seizures.

What happens if you use cocaine while pregnant?

Using cocaine while pregnant is dangerous for both the mother and the fetus.

The substances in cocaine can pass through the placenta that surrounds the fetus and affect its developing heart and nervous system. This can cause:

miscarriage
premature birth
cardiac and neurological birth defects

The neurological effects and impact on the brain’s dopamine levels can also remain in the mother after giving birth. Some postpartum symptoms include:

postpartum depression
anxiety
withdrawal symptoms, including:
- dizziness
- nausea
- diarrhea
- irritability
- intense cravings

Stopping drug use during the first trimester increases the chances of having a healthy baby.

Side effects after prolonged use

Heavy cocaine use can damage many parts of the body. Here are some examples:

Lost sense of smell. Heavy and prolonged use can damage the odor receptors in the nose.
Reduced cognitive abilities. This includes memory loss, lowered attention span, or decreased decision-making ability.
Inflammation of nose tissues. Prolonged inflammation can lead to collapse of the nose and nasal cavity, as well as holes in the roof of the mouth (palatal perforation).
Lung damage. This can include scar tissue formation, internal bleeding, new or worsening symptoms of asthma, or emphysema.
Increased risk of nervous system disorders. Risk of conditions affecting the CNS, such as Parkinson’s, may increase.

If you or someone else is having an overdose

Medical emergency
A cocaine overdose is a life-threatening emergency. Call 911 right away or seek emergency medical help if you think you or someone with you is overdosing. Symptoms include:
shallow breaths or no breathing at all
unable to focus, speak, or keep eyes open (may be unconscious)
skin turns blue or gray
lips and fingernails darken
snoring or gurgling noises from throat

Help reduce the severity of the overdose by doing the following:

Shake or shout at the person to get their attention, or wake them up, if you can.
Push your knuckles down on their chest while rubbing gently.
Apply CPR. Here’s how to do it.
Move them onto their side to help with breathing.
Keep them warm.
Don’t leave them until emergency responders arrive.

How to get help

Admitting you have an addiction to cocaine can be difficult. Remember, many people understand what you’re going through, and help is out there.

First, reach out to a healthcare provider. They can monitor you during withdrawal and determine whether you need inpatient support.

You can also call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-4357 for treatment referral. It’s available 24/7.

Support groups can also be valuable and help you connect with others who get it. Some options include The Support Group Project and Narcotics Anonymous.

Takeaway

Cocaine can have serious side effects, especially after heavy and prolonged use.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder, reach out to a healthcare provider for help.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Crack cocaine. (2013).http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/crack.asp
Illegal drug use and pregnancy. (n.d.).https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=illegal-drug-use-and-pregnancy-85-P01208
Lypka MA, et al. (2007). Cocaine-induced palatal perforation. DOI:https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMicm066935
Meyer KD, et al. (2009). Short- and long-term adverse effects of cocaine abuse during pregnancy on the heart development. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/1753944708099877
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016). Cocaine.https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-cocaine
Restrepo CS, et al. (2007). Pulmonary complications from cocaine and cocaine-based substances: Imaging manifestations. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.274065144

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Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm.D., M.S., FASCP — Written by Tim Jewell on September 10, 2019

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