Observation and patient disposition after cocaine poisoning

Admit patients with evidence of cocaine-associated vascular complications or hyperthermia to a critical care unit.

Admit patients for observation if they have:

• cocaine-associated chest pain
• any evidence of other end-organ damage due to cocaine.

Patients who present with a cocaine-associated sympathomimetic toxidrome can be safely discharged after at least 4 hours of observation if:

• their symptoms have resolved spontaneously, or following treatment with benzodiazepines
• they have no signs of end-organ damage.