Cocaethylene: a current understanding of the active metabolite of cocaine and ethanol

Am J Emerg Med. 1994 Jul;12(4):489-90. doi: 10.1016/0735-6757(94)90070-1.

Abstract

Cocaine and ethanol abuse remains a major problem in our society. The active metabolite of the co-ingestion of cocaine and ethanol, cocaethylene, has been reported recently. This active and potentially toxic metabolite has enormous implications for emergency physicians. This article is a brief review of the current understanding of cocaethylene and its role as a serious toxin in the practice of emergency medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Cocaine* / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cocaine* / chemistry
  • Cocaine* / metabolism
  • Cocaine* / pharmacology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Humans
  • Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors* / metabolism
  • Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
  • cocaethylene
  • Cocaine