This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lipton, J. W. Articles by Silvestri, J. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Acute Cocaine Toxicity: Pharmacology and Clinical Presentations in Adult and Pediatric Populations

Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Rush University and Rush Chaldren's Hospital, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612

Kile P. Mangan

Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Rush University and Rush Chaldren's Hospital, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612

Jean M. Silvestri

Department of Pediatrics, Rush University and Rush Chaldren's Hospital, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612

Cocaine remains the most prevalent drug responsible for emergency department (ED) visits. A majority of acute cocaine toxicity cases involve young, habitual, adult cocaine users and often present with a range of cardiac, neurologic, gastrointestinal (GI) or renal symptoms. In addition, atypical populations (neonates, infants, toddlers, young children and adolescents) are presenting in EDs with varying symptoms that are unknowingly associated with cocaine exposure. Unfortunately, juvenile presentations are generally anecdotal in nature, and while enlightening, are difficult to quantify epidemiologically. Outlining the types of symptom presentation in these young populations may assist healthcare providers in expediting proper treatment for such demographic groups. Therefore, this review examines the current knowledge regarding cocaine's pharmacologic activity as it relates to its potential toxicity, and outlines the clinical manifestations of cocaine exposure and toxicity in adult and pediatric populations. We conclude from the available clinical reports that there must be a higher index of suspicion in the pediatric population to identify exposed infants and children. Improved recognition and identification in both typical and atypical populations will result in better characterization of acute cocaine toxicity.

Key Words: cocaine • pharmacology • epidemiology • drug addiction • drug abuse • emergency departments • toxicity.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 13, No. 2, 159-169 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/089719000001300207


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?