cocaine hydrochloride poisoning [Sp, coca + HCl + L, potio, drink] , toxic effects of exposure to the colorless crystalline alkaloid derived from coca leaves. Although used as a local analgesic for a century, cocaine is highly toxic with moderate vasoconstrictor activity and serious psychotropic effects. Symptoms include nervous excitement, restlessness, incoherent speech, fever, hypertension, stroke, and cardiac arrhythmias, leading to convulsions, collapse, respiratory arrest, and death. The euphoric effect of cocaine lasts about 30 minutes. A crystalline form of cocaine with the street names crack and rock is smoked.
