Cocaine elsewhere in the body Cocaine has a similar effect outside the brain, on nerves that use the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. Cocaine blocks re-uptake of noradrenaline, and thus affects the activity of the heart, blood vessels and genitalia, causing heart irregularities, increased blood pressure, and sometimes sexual stimulation. Results of cocaine use Almost everyone who uses cocaine gets a pleasant high. They feel successful, sexy, energetic and powerful. Libido increases early in cocaine use.
Cocaine can also induce paranoia and violent behaviour.
Medical risks include heart attack, stroke, seizure, and sudden death from heart arrhythmias. Users may be malnourished because cocaine suppresses appetite. Snorting cocaine can damage the interior of the nose, and smoking crack can lead to pneumonia or other lung damage. There is evidence that taking cocaine during pregnancy can lead to low birthweight babies with small heads, abnormalities in the genitalia, and mental retardation. There is some controversy about these findings, since mothers studied often had other risk factors such as other drug use, poverty and malnutrition.