How Does Cocaine Work?
Question by David M: How does cocaine work?
I’ve researched the other related questions on this site but none answer specifically this. Can anyone tell me how cocaine actually works? Like, for example, when you are on ecstacy the chemical uses all the seratonin in your brain at once to give you the feeling of ‘happiness’ or ‘euphoria.’ How does cocaine chemically work? Does it also mess with your seratonin levels, or do the chemicals tweak your brain with other hormones? How does it specifically work?
Best answer:
Answer by deedeetres
how old are you?
why would you want to know?
ya know, that’s what internet is good for if you are doing research for a real reason….but if you are wanting someone to pump you up, for usage reasons, forget it.
Answer by Bleu
In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse, where it can bind with dopamine receptors on neighboring neurons. Normally, dopamine is then recycled back into the transmitting neuron by a specialized protein called the dopamine transporter. If cocaine is present, it attaches to the dopamine transporter and blocks the normal recycling process, resulting in a buildup of dopamine in the synapse, which
contributes to the pleasurable effects of cocaine.
Bring It All To Me (Lyrics) – Honey Cocaine
No Copyright Infringement Intended* Bring It All To Me lyrics off of Honey’s latest mixtape 90’s Gold.
u konw d things called neurotransmitters?…receptors block,increase or decrease a certain type of neurotransmitters by mimicking the shape of one, u shud search for those
Bleu did a nice job explaining how cocaine works, but it should also be noted that cocaine does a very good job of blocking the re-uptake of norepinephrine in addition to blocking the re-uptake of dopamine. Then the question is why does blocking the uptake of dopamine (and norepinephrine) make one feel so good. That’s a subject of much study and debate, but it is known that dopamine in an area of the brain called the nucleus accumbens is involved in euphoria (feeling good), and in drug seeking behavior (addiction).