Cocaine Metabolite (Benzoylecgonine)

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that has a rapid onset but short-lived effects. Cocaine can raise body temperature, increase heart rate and decrease the feeling of hunger. In serious cases of overdose, this drug can cause convulsions and cardiac arrest. Cocaine is metabolised to a variety of compounds, the major metabolites being Benzoylecgonine (BZG), Ecgonine, and Ecgonine Methyl Ester. BZG is produced upon loss of the methyl group and is the major urinary metabolite. The half-life for cocaine is short, approx 0.8 ± 0.2 hours, while the half-life of BZG is 6 hours.