At a Glance
| Cocaine | Amphetamine | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Stimulants | Stimulants |
| Common Dose (intravenous) | 5–10 mg | 15–30 mg |
| Total Duration | 0.1–0.2 hrs | 2–4 hrs |
| Routes | intravenousoralsmoked |
Cocaine and amphetamine are both central nervous system stimulants that increase dopamine, norepinephrine, and (to varying degrees) serotonin signaling in the brain. Yet they achieve this through different mechanisms and produce experiences with meaningfully different characters, durations, and risk profiles. Cocaine is a reuptake inhibitor — it blocks the dopamine transporter, preventing neurotransmitter reabsorption. Amphetamine is a releasing agent — it actively forces dopamine and norepinephrine out of storage vesicles and into the synapse. This mechanistic difference explains many of the practical differences users experience between the two substances.
| Cocaine | Amphetamine | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Stimulants | Stimulants |
| Common Dose (intravenous) | 5–10 mg | 15–30 mg |
| Total Duration | 0.1–0.2 hrs | 2–4 hrs |
| Routes | intravenousoralsmoked |
intravenousoralinsufflated |
| Effects | 36 documented | 43 documented |
| Interaction | Uncertain | |
Duration is one of the most consequential differences. Cocaine's effects last 15–45 minutes when insufflated, driving compulsive redosing and binge patterns. Amphetamine lasts 4–8 hours (or longer for extended-release formulations), providing sustained effects from a single dose. This makes amphetamine functionally more practical and cocaine more addictive in pattern of use.
Addiction potential is high for both but cocaine is generally considered more acutely addictive due to its short duration and intense rush, which creates a powerful reinforcement cycle. The crash following cocaine use is rapid and drives immediate desire for more. Amphetamine's longer duration means less frequent dosing and a more gradual comedown, though chronic amphetamine dependence is serious and common.
Subjective effects overlap but have distinct characters. Cocaine produces a brief, intense euphoric rush with feelings of confidence, energy, and invincibility. Amphetamine produces a more sustained, focused stimulation with increased motivation, concentration, and wakefulness. Users often describe cocaine as more euphoric per minute and amphetamine as more functional.
Cardiovascular risk is significant for both. Cocaine is additionally a local anesthetic and sodium channel blocker, giving it unique cardiotoxicity — it can cause coronary vasospasm, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death even in young, healthy users. Amphetamine's cardiovascular strain is more predictable and dose-proportional.
Medical use distinguishes them sharply. Amphetamine (as Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse) is one of the most widely prescribed medications in psychiatry, used for ADHD and narcolepsy. Cocaine has very limited medical use as a local anesthetic in ENT procedures. This gives amphetamine a supply of pharmaceutical-grade product with known doses, while cocaine is exclusively street-sourced with unknown purity and adulterants.
| Level | Cocaine | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 2 mg | 4 mg |
| Light | 2–5 mg | 6–15 mg |
| Common | 5–10 mg | 15–30 mg |
| Strong | 10–15 mg | 30–50 mg |
| Heavy | 15 mg | 50 mg |
| Level | Cocaine | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 13 mg | 2.5 mg |
| Light | 13–75 mg | 5–10 mg |
| Common | 75–150 mg | 10–25 mg |
| Strong | 150–225 mg | 25–50 mg |
| Heavy | 225 mg | 50 mg |
| Level | Cocaine | Amphetamine |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 5 mg | 4 mg |
| Light | 10–30 mg | 6–15 mg |
| Common | 30–60 mg | 15–30 mg |
| Strong | 60–90 mg | 30–50 mg |
| Heavy | 90 mg | 50 mg |
| Level | Dose |
|---|---|
| Threshold | 2.5 mg |
| Light | 5–15 mg |
| Common | 15–30 mg |
| Strong | 30–45 mg |
| Heavy | 45 mg |
Cocaine
Total: 5 min – 15 min
Amphetamine
Total: 3 hrs – 6 hrs
Cocaine
Total: 2 hrs – 4 hrs
Amphetamine
Cocaine
Total: 10 min – 1.5 hrs
Amphetamine
Total: 5 min – 15 min
Total: 6 hrs – 8 hrs
Total: 3 hrs – 6 hrs