Can cocaine abuse cause parkinsonism?

Am J Addict

Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Published: June 1997

Dopamine deficiency is found in both chronic cocaine abusers and Parkinson's disease. The authors sought to determine whether parkinsonian signs occur in chronic cocaine abusers. Fifty male patients with a history of chronic heavy cocaine abuse were examined on the Unified Parkinson Disease Scale (UPDS) and compared with 20 non-cocaine-abusing, age- and sex-matched control subjects. UPDS scores of cocaine abusers ranged from 0 to 1 (mean: 0.08 +/- 0.28) and, in control subjects, from 0 to 3 (mean: 0.15 +/- 0.49; P = 0.5; NS). This study suggests that chronic heavy cocaine abuse does not cause parkinsonism.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

cocaine abuse
12
cocaine abusers
12
chronic cocaine
8
chronic heavy
8
heavy cocaine
8
control subjects
8
cocaine
6
abuse parkinsonism?
4
parkinsonism? dopamine
4
dopamine deficiency
4

Similar Publications

Application of LC-MS/MS for the Identification of Drugs of Abuse in Driver's License Regranting Procedures.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel)

December 2024

Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Social Security and Forensic Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.

Drugged driving is associated with an increased risk of road accidents worldwide. In Italy, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs is a reason for driving disqualification or revocation of the driving license. Drivers charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs must attend a Local Medical Commission (LMC) to undergo mandatory examinations to regain the suspended license.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This comprehensive review examines the ocular vascular complications of cocaine use, focusing on its effects on retinal vasculature and inflammation. A rare case of bilateral frosted branch angiitis (FBA) in a 48-year-old man with a history of intranasal cocaine abuse is presented as an illustrative example to stimulate discussion. The case highlights severe retinal ischemia and vascular sheathing, with no identifiable infectious or autoimmune cause, ultimately complicated by systemic vascular events.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

L-type calcium channel blockade attenuates the anxiogenic-like and pro-depressive-like effects of cocaine abstinence in female and male rats.

Neuroscience

January 2025

Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address:

Cocaine abstinence and withdrawal are linked to relapse, heightened anxiety, and depressive-like symptoms. While L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) have been associated with cocaine use disorders in humans and drug-seeking behavior in rodent models, their role in mood-related symptoms during cocaine abstinence remains unclear. This study examined whether blocking LTCCs with isradipine could alter anxiety and depressive symptoms induced by cocaine abstinence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This case report presents a 37-year-old male with a complex medical history, including HIV, chronic methamphetamine and cocaine use, and an atrial septal defect, who developed severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), biventricular failure, and recurrent stroke. The patient was admitted with acute neurological deficits and respiratory failure, which rapidly progressed despite intensive management. Laboratory and imaging studies revealed severe cardiac dysfunction and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!