People who use cocaine describe a feeling of alertness, power and energy. They are likely to feel more confident and excited. They may also experience anxiety, paranoia and agitation. The period after the effects of the cocaine have worn off can also be physically and/or psychologically unpleasant.
Because cocaine is a local anesthetic, it causes numbness of the throat and tongue when snorted, of the mouth when smoked, and of the injection site if injected. The effects generally last between 10 to 30 minutes, though how quickly these effects are experienced depends on the mode of administration.
Cocaine use raises body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate and thus use of large amounts can lead to overheating, strokes and heart attacks, which can be fatal.