cocaethylene

Cocaethylene is a psychoactive and toxic compound formed in the liver when cocaine and alcohol are consumed together. Chemically, it is the ethyl ester of benzoylecgonine, structurally similar to cocaine (which is the methyl ester). Cocaethylene acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI), increasing levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. It has a higher affinity for the dopamine transporter than cocaine but lower affinity for serotonin and norepinephrine transporters. The substance produces stimulant, euphoriant, anorectic, sympathomimetic, and local anesthetic effects with a longer duration of action than cocaine. Cocaethylene is significantly more toxic than either cocaine or alcohol alone; it increases risks of heart damage, liver failure, seizures, overdose, and sudden death—carrying an 18- to 25-fold increased risk of immediate death compared to cocaine alone[2][3][5][7]. It also impairs judgment and can lead to more intense highs that last longer due to its slower elimination from the body[3][6].

Other names

ethylbenzoylecgonine