Cocaine Overdose Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

If you think you or someone you know is experiencing an overdose on cocaine, call 911 right away.

Cocaine is a highly addictive and illegal stimulant drug made from the coca plant which is native to South America.^1,2 It is designated a Schedule II substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.^3,4

In this article, you’ll learn about cocaine overdose symptoms, dangers, and how cocaine overdoses are treated.

What Happens During a Cocaine Overdose?

During a cocaine overdose, a person has used enough cocaine to result in serious adverse effects that may include life-threatening symptoms or cause death.² An overdose can occur after using cocaine by itself or in addition to other drugs.²

It is especially risky to drink alcohol or use other drugs like heroin at the same time as using cocaine as this can lead to overdose.²

Cocaine has the potential to negatively affect every organ in the body, but it poses the deadliest threat to the cardiovascular system by acting in a way that alters critical functions of the heart and blood vessels.⁸

Cocaine Overdose Symptoms

An individual who overdoses on cocaine might experience both physiological and psychological symptoms.²

The physiological cocaine overdose symptoms can include:²

• Seizures.
• Elevated blood pressure.
• Heart attack.
• Elevated body temperature.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Trouble breathing.
• Stroke.

There can also be psychological cocaine overdose symptoms such as:^2,8

• Hallucinations.
• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Delirium.

How to Respond in the Event of a Cocaine Overdose

Immediately dial 911 if you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of a cocaine overdose.

When a person overdoses on cocaine, professional medical assistance is needed right away.⁸ While you wait for emergency medical care to arrive, you can try to keep the person safe by:

• Staying with them and letting them know help is on the way.
• Laying the person on their side and moving objects that could harm them if they are having seizures.

How Can Emergency Responders Treat a Cocaine Overdose?

Unfortunately, there is no current medication that can be administered to reverse a cocaine overdose. Instead, trained medical personnel will treat a cocaine overdose by treating the symptoms associated with it.²

Oftentimes, a cocaine overdose causes a seizure, heart attack, or stroke. In response to these conditions, emergency medical professionals will try to:²

• Stop the seizure.
• Get blood flowing to the heart again (medical response to a heart attack).
• Return the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the brain affected (medical response to a stroke).

Finding Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Whether someone has previously experienced a cocaine overdose or is showing signs of cocaine addiction, finding treatment can be lifesaving. At Greenhouse Treatment Center—a drug rehab near Dallas—we provide a full continuum of effective addiction recovery care with various types of addiction treatment including:

• Medical detox
• Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab
• Outpatient addiction treatment in Dallas
• Sober living homes in Arlington

If you or a loved one is in need of help for cocaine addiction, call us at to learn more about starting the treatment admissions process. Admissions navigators are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about using insurance to pay for rehab or other payment methods. You can also instantly and securely online.