Association of asthma and freebase smoking.

Three patients addicted to cocaine in the form of "freebasing" were treated because of asthma. Patient no. 1 had very severe asthma while using the illicit drug. Patient no. 2's asthma became severe 2 months after she stopped this form of cocaine. Patient no. 3, who had asthma in childhood, developed cough and shortness of breath (but not wheezing) when he smoked the freebase but not while snorting. Freebasing may cause or contribute to asthma as a nonspecific irritant.