Alleviation of cocaine-induced coronary vasoconstriction with intravenous verapamil

Cocaine use has been associated with a number of cardiovascular complications, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death.[1-4] Previous studies in humans have shown that cocaine causes epicardial coronary vasoconstriction, which is mediated, at least in part, by [alpha]-adrenergic stimulation.[5-10] Studies in experimental animals have suggested that cocaine may also cause vasoconstriction by altering calcium transport in vascular smooth muscle,[11] and this can be attenuated by calcium channel blockade. The present study was performed to assess the effect of verapamil, a calcium antagonist, on cocaine-induced coronary vaso-constriction in humans.