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How Cocaine Affects Antibiotics

Person wondering how cocaine affects antibiotics

Cocaine use affects antibiotics in a negative way. In general, Cocaine hurts the immune system, which is dangerous because the body struggles to fight off infections when the immune system is harmed. A person who is misusing cocaine will have a hard time fighting off infections due to their compromised immune system. The immune system of a person addicted to cocaine does not function as efficiently as a person who is not addicted. Even when prescribed antibiotics, the immune system struggles to utilize them properly to fight off infections.

If you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine use, contact Vertava Health today at 844.470.0410. Our cocaine addiction treatment can help you get your life back on track. Vertava Health is a comprehensive addiction treatment center specializing in cocaine addiction treatment. We offer evidence-based treatments that are designed to help you overcome your addiction and live a sober, healthy life.

The Basics of Cocaine and Antibiotics

Cocaine and antibiotics affect entirely different parts of the body and work in different ways.

Cocaine is a:

  • Central nervous system stimulant that speeds up the body’s systems.

Antibiotics are

  • Medications used to kill or prevent the growth of bacteria.

Cocaine harms the immune system in a few ways:

  • First, it increases inflammation throughout the body.
  • Second, it affects dopamine in the brain, causing euphoria, extreme energy, and sleeplessness.
  • Dopamine is also believed to play a significant role in immunity regulation. Disrupting dopamine levels with cocaine use may strongly impact the body’s ability to fight infections.
  • A lowered immune system leaves a person vulnerable to bacteria and infections, as does not respond as well to antibiotics.

Side Effects of Combining Cocaine and Antibiotics

Cocaine does not directly interact with antibiotics, although cocaine does lower the immune system’s response, increasing the likelihood of infection and the need for antibiotics. Once prescribed antibiotics, continued cocaine use decreases the effectiveness of the antibiotics.

The body uses physical barriers to prevent foreign materials from causing infections. Skin, hair, and mucous membranes are some of the barriers humans use to prevent bacteria from entering the body.

Smoking, snorting, and freebasing cocaine damages the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, mouth, and lungs. Cocaine use increases the risk of infection of the respiratory system, including sinus infections, throat infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis.

Side effects of cocaine use also affect immune system responses in numerous ways, including:

  • Poor nutrition and insomnia, which both negatively impact immune system function.
  • Cocaine intoxication may make a person forget to take antibiotics as prescribed, resulting in extended infection times.
  • Cocaine use can result in risky behaviors that may lead to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Injecting cocaine with dirty needles also puts a person at risk for contracting hepatitis C and B, as well as HIV Treatment.
  • Cocaine use also damages the lining of the lungs, throat, mouth, and nose, allowing bacteria and infections to enter the body quickly.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Vertava Health

Although cocaine and antibiotics do not interact, cocaine certainly affects an antibiotic’s ability to heal infections. By decreasing the immune system’s strength, cocaine can prolong the length of an infection. It is never recommended that a person use cocaine for any reason, but it should most certainly be avoided during an infection or while prescribed antibiotics. If a person cannot refrain from cocaine use while taking an antibiotic or fighting off an infection, it could indicate cocaine use or addiction.

Contact our specialists today at 844.470.0410 to learn more about our cocaine addiction treatment and recovery options. We can help you get your life back on track.