A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing cocaine intoxication. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Introduction: Cocaine is a potent sympathomimetic stimulant that increases synaptic catecholamine concentrations, leading to profound autonomic activation and acute neurological excitation during the intoxication phase. A. Mydriasis, or dilated pupils, is a classic finding in cocaine intoxication due to the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The excess of norepinephrine causes the pupillary dilator muscle to contract, serving as a key physical indicator of recent stimulant use during a clinical psychiatric or emergency assessment. B. Increased appetite is not expected during intoxication; rather, cocaine acts as a significant anorexiant. The stimulant effect suppresses the appetite centers in the brain and increases metabolism. Increased appetite is actually a hallmark sign of the "crash" or withdrawal phase that follows cocaine cessation. C. Depressed mood is the opposite of the euphoria and grandiosity typically experienced during cocaine intoxication. Cocaine prevents the reuptake of dopamine in the reward pathways, leading to a state of high energy and hyper-alertness. Depressive symptoms and dysphoria are characteristic of the subsequent withdrawal period. D. While cocaine increases the heart rate and blood pressure, it does not typically cause "respiratory stimulation" in a therapeutic sense; extreme toxicity can actually lead to respiratory distress or failure. The sympathetic effects are primarily cardiovascular and neurological rather than focused on pulmonary rate or depth improvements.