Cocaine effects in sleep-deprived humans

Abstract

Eight normal healthy volunteers were tested in a reaction-time task and a work-output task after 24 and 48 h of sleep deprivation with and without 96 mg of inhaled cocaine. Cardiovascular changes and verbal report of mood change and drug effect were also monitored. Sleep deprivation produced a decrement in reaction-time performance which was reversed by inhalation of cocaine. Heart rate increased after cocaine both under non sleep-deprived conditions and sleep-deprived conditions. The magnitude of the drug-induced heart rate was, however, lower when subjects were deprived of sleep for 48 h. Verbal reports of cocaine effects were similar to those reported for amphetamine, with no evidence supporting the idea of a postdrug depression immediately after the acute effects of the drug dissipated, although some rebound effects were noted 8 h after drug administration.