Expert: Jacqui - 7/22/2008

Question
I have a question about the use of cocaine and its impact on regular life. When I was studying the brain part of drugs I came to this question. Please help me to find an answer! The body reacts to the use of cocaine by decreasing the number of dopamine receptors which is called tolerancy. But does that mean that a smaller number of dopamine receptors will affect a person's "normal" life as well. Meaning that if a person with tolerance to cocaine (smaller # of dopamine receptors) has sex, the amount of dopamine produced will have a smaller effect than if the person didn't have tolerance because there are only few receptores left for dopamine produced by sex. Do I make the right connection?
Thank you so much!

Sincerely

Matous Hejl

Answer
Hi Moutous,

I had a chat to a friend of mine who is expert in this stuff, and basically cocaine works to decrease the reuptake of dopamine, meaning that you have more swirling around your brain.  Over time, there may be a reduction in activity at the receptors, but there is no evidence that this is permanent.  

Brain chemistry is extremely complex, which I am sure you are aware, and the interaction between internal and external stimuli is difficult to separate.  So, someone having reduced pleasure after a cocaine dependency could be hypothesised to be about reduced receptors, or a lingering memory of how good it was before when they were using coke.

So I am really sorry but I can't really give you a definitive answer.  However, a quick literature search didn't yield any particularly mind blowing studies.  Also, my guess would be that if there was solid evidence that cocaine dependency reduced your ability to enjoy sex forever, then the US government would've made a television commercial about it (although they manage to say things about drug use without any evidence anyway).

If you are a student or have access to a university journal database you might like to run a search on 'dopamine and cocaine'.  Although, I have always found those neurochemistry journal articles hard work!

Good luck and stay safe (whatever you do)
Jacqui