Cocaine, also known as coke, is a tropane alkaloid and strong (SNDRI) stimulant made from coca leaves. It is most frequently used as a recreational drug and euphoriant. It is commonly snorted, inhaled as smoke, or dissolved and injected into a vein. Mental effects may include an intense feeling of happiness, sexual arousal, loss of contact with reality, or agitation. Physical symptoms may include a fast heart rate, sweating, and large pupils. High doses can result in very high blood pressure or body temperature. Effects begin within seconds to minutes of use and last between five and ninety minutes. Cocaine has a small number of accepted medical uses, such as numbing and decreasing bleeding during nasal surgery.
