Knowra Cocaine Cocaine Cocaine is a stimulant drug that blocks dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin reuptake transporters. It produces brief increases in these neurotransmitters’ signaling and carries substantial risks of dependence and cardiovascular harm.
Dopamine transporter : A membrane protein that clears dopamine from the synaptic space by transporting it into neurons. Cocaine blocks this transporter, prolonging dopamine signaling in reward circuits.
Cocaine use disorder : A pattern of cocaine use causing clinically significant impairment or distress, including impaired control and continued use despite harm. It describes the persistent compulsive-use pattern that cocaine can produce.
Coca : A genus of South American shrubs whose leaves contain cocaine alkaloids. Cocaine is extracted from coca leaves, which have a much longer history of human use.
Amphetamine : A synthetic stimulant that increases monoamine signaling through mechanisms including transporter reversal and release. Unlike cocaine’s primary reuptake blockade, amphetamine can promote neurotransmitter release.
Norepinephrine transporter : A membrane protein that removes norepinephrine from synapses and returns it to nerve cells. Its blockade contributes to cocaine’s elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
Cocaine withdrawal : Symptoms following reduction or cessation of prolonged cocaine use, often including fatigue, low mood, and strong cravings. Withdrawal helps explain why stopping can remain difficult after intoxication ends.
Albert Niemann : A German chemist who isolated cocaine from coca leaves in the nineteenth century. His isolation made the purified alkaloid available for scientific and medical study.
Methylphenidate : A prescription stimulant that blocks dopamine and norepinephrine transporters and is used to treat ADHD. Its transporter action resembles cocaine’s, but its therapeutic use and pharmacokinetics differ.
Serotonin transporter : A membrane protein that recaptures serotonin from the synaptic space. Cocaine blocks serotonin reuptake as well as dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake.
Cocaine-induced psychosis : A psychotic state associated with cocaine use, potentially involving paranoia, delusions, or hallucinations. Excessive dopamine signaling can accompany these severe psychiatric effects.
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