Cocaethylene: a current understanding of the active metabolite of cocaine and ethanol.
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.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Alameda County Medical Center, Highland General Hospital, Oakland, CA 94602.
J S
JS
Rose
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D006801:Humans; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; C066444:cocaethylene; D003042:Cocaine