Heart strain from mixing stimulants
Cocaine, amphetamines, meth, MDMA, mephedrone and even nicotine each raise heart rate and blood pressure and narrow blood vessels. Stacking two of them adds the load together, on a heart that is also getting less blood through narrowed vessels. Heat, dancing and dehydration add to it.
- Chest pain or tightnessNever wait this one out.
- A racing or irregular heartbeat that does not settle when they rest
- A sudden severe headache, a drooping face, weakness on one side, or slurred speechThese are the signs of a stroke.
- Skin hot to the touch, confusion, or severe agitation
- A seizure
- 01Call 911 straight away for chest pain, stroke signs, or a seizure.Naloxone does nothing here. Tell them exactly what was taken.
- 02Stop, sit down, and get somewhere cool and quiet.Loosen tight clothing and cool them with a damp cloth or a fan. Overheating is one of the worst signs in stimulant overdose.
- 03No more of anything, including something to take the edge off.
If you are going to combine anyway
- One stimulant at a time, and smaller amounts than usual.
- Do not redose on a schedule.The comedown makes redosing feel necessary, and each dose lands on a heart that is already working hard.
- Take breaks from dancing, and get out of the heat.
How it happens
Stimulants work by pushing up adrenaline-like signals in the body. The heart beats faster and harder, blood pressure rises, and the blood vessels tighten, including the ones that feed the heart muscle itself. The heart is being asked to do more work while it receives less blood to do it with.
That combination is how stimulants cause heart attacks and strokes. It also produces heat, and a body temperature that keeps climbing is one of the clearest signs that things are about to get worse.
Substances that carry this risk
MixSafe raises a whole-mix warning when two or more of these are in the same mix. The list is kept narrow on purpose, so it is not every drug that can contribute. Each pair still has its own rating.