tetrahydrozoline poisoning symptoms

Also in June 2006, Kristine Anzalone served her roommate, Joseph Gentissi Jr., an iced tea spiked with Visine. Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. Ive reached out to Visine and Johnson & Johnson for comment on these cases. A North Carolina paramedic allegedly murdered his wife by poisoning her with Visine. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. (2016). Clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, is a biochemical derivative of imidazoline that was initially introduced as a topical nasal decongestant over 40 years ago [ 1 ]. Medical Toxicology Physician, Call Officials told K2Radio the girl varied her dosage of the eye drops poured into her stepmothers beverages from as little as one-sixth of a bottle to as much as a quarter of a bottle. Clinical Toxicology, 52(5), 454-469. It also figures in murder charges against Joshua Lee Hunsucker, a North Carolina paramedic accused of killing his wife, Stacy Hunsucker, 32, in 2018, allegedly for life insurance money, the state Department of Insurance said when announcing his arrest last month. Symptoms Symptoms may include: Altered mental state Coma (lack of responsiveness) Difficulty breathing or no breathing Blurred vision Blue lips and fingernails Changes in blood pressure (high at first, low later) Change in pupil size Fast or slow heartbeat Headache Irritability Low body temperature Nausea and vomiting Nervousness, tremors Seizures segment described, he allegedly used Visine eye drops to poison and eventually kill his wife, 32-year-old Stacy Robinson Hunsucker: during New Line Cinema Premiere of "Wedding Crashers" at Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, New York, United States. Although this belief has been around for decades, and everyone knows someone who knows someone who really did administer a Visine mickey to a deserving miscreant and thereby caused him an immediate serious case of the trots, there's no documented evidence the producthas that effect. They will give you further instructions. [Medford, OR] Mail Tribune. In January 2009, 40-year-old Tonia L. Peterson of Fair Grove, Missouri, was charged with first-degree assault for dumping half a bottle of eye drops into her husband's tea in an attempt to kill her spouse. The stepmother was hospitalized twice with various ailments. TETRAHYDROZOLINE (tet-ra-hye-DROZ-oh-leen) is a decongestant. In October 2003, an unnamed Southern California high school student put eye drops in teacher's water bottle in an attempt to give his instructor severe diarrhea. Visit MyUFHealth to get an estimate for your cost for the most common medical procedures. The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. 2020 Jan 18. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. Clonidine and topical imidazolines exposure in toddlers. As the two cases demonstrated, even relatively small amounts can be toxic. A majority of the cases are often not fatal, when appropriate treatment is given. Springfield News-Leader. Cats given Tylenol die a slow and painful death as their cells . Immediately use thewebPOISONCONTROLonline tool or call 1-800-222-1222. Wahi, M. M., Stone, K. V., Chance, M., & Miller, C. E. (2017). I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. The active ingredient in eye drops such as Visine is tetrahydrozoline HCI. A 19-year-old Wyoming woman accused of poisoning her stepmother with eye drops has pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault charge. If you or a loved one drank eyedrops or nasal decongestant sprays by accident or on purpose, do not wait for symptoms to occur. In young children, serious adverse events can occur from ingesting only a small amount (1 to 2 mL, or several drops) of tetrahydrozoline. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. Butin real life, the prank is no laughing matter. 746-746). Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning can be prevented by: It is important to give your healthcare provider a complete list of prescription and non-prescription medications that are being currently taken. 4 Available since the 1950s, tetryzoline is a selective 1-receptor agonist 5 that is used as an ocular and nasal decongestant. But the agency has warned that if ingested, the chemical, and others like it that narrow blood vessels, may cause serious and life-threatening adverse events.. The Dangers of Letting Your Dog Play in the Ocean, Ex-'Top Chef' Contestant Accused of Poisoning Tree That Was Blocking Solar Panels, Woman Who Allegedly Poisoned Niece's Breast Milk Didn't 'Feel an Ounce of Guilt,' Cops Say, Bride Sues Caterer After Guests Suffer Food Poisoning During Wedding. 17:24 GMT 22 Mar 2013 These medications are available over-the-counter in pharmacies in the United States and are frequently not packaged in child-resistant containers. Munchausen syndrome by proxy due to tetrahydrozoline poisoning. Common signs of poisoning in humans are as follows:-. Symptoms of tetrahydrozoline poisoning include: Blood pressure changes; Nausea; Vomiting; Seizures; Coma; Difficulty breathing; Xiidra does not contain tetrahydrozoline, but is still considered potentially harmful when swallowed. Visine side effects. Over-the-counter eyedrops and decongestant sprays are frequently used to treat upper respiratory congestion and irritated, red eyes. When consumed by mouth, they may result in serious toxicity and even death. As this ABC News segment described, he allegedly used Visine eye drops to poison and eventually kill his wife, 32-year-old Stacy Robinson Hunsucker: Per the news segment, Hunsucker and his wife had been high school sweethearts. Osterhoudt KC, Henretig FM. state Department of Insurance said when announcing his arrest last month. This would be considered. The comments below have not been moderated, Tragedy as high school track athlete dies after being hit by a discus during competition, Father and daughter plunge hand-in-hand to their deaths from bridge while holding their pet Chihuahua, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' In the South Carolina case, the traces of tetrahydrozoline were found in Mr. Claytons body during the autopsy, the warrant said. 's editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. Several systems of the body, such as the respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, and ENT may be affected. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. WOIO-TV [Cleveland]. Reports of significant toxicity from tetrahydrozoline ingestion are unusual but have occured primarily in small children after unintentional ingestion (3-63, 6). Tetrahydrozoline poisoning Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. 19 June 2009. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. 539-540). Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Changes in blood pressure (high at first, low later), The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known), ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing), Fluids through the vein (intravenous or IV). They said they are "shocked and mortified by the cause of Steven's death All our family and friends know how much he loved his wife and how devoted he was to her. Dont crash weddings to hook up with strangers. "Chills, sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. A.D.A.M. , the 53-year-old Clayton pled guilty tovoluntary manslaughter and tampering with a food or drug after she admitted togiving her husband Steven Clayton drinks laced with Visine.. Most of us don't indulge in this pursuit because we've deemed the cost of getting even too high to justify the benefits gained, yet we revel in thoughts of comeuppances doled out by others. 2018 Sep 5. That's when detectives told Kurczewski about the tetrahydrozoline the . If I had an underlying medical condition or if I had gotten a little more of the drug I could have been seriously injured or died.. Symptoms Symptoms may include: Altered mental state Coma (lack of responsiveness) Difficulty breathing or no breathing Blurred vision Blue lips and fingernails 7 September 1997 (p. A32). Then his wife admitted to poisoning his water with eye drops. Our state-of-the-art medical center serves an urban population of 1 million from north Florida to south Georgia. Reports of significant toxicity from tetrahydrozoline ingestion are unusual but have occured primarily in small children after unintentional ingestion (3-63, 6). Products like Visine contain tetrahydrozoline HCI, according to http://Healthguidance.org, and this substance is known to cause diarrhea, nausea, severe breathing difficulty, respiratory failure, tremors, blurred vision, seizures, coma and even death. It could be from seasonal allergies, being tired, or smoking marijuana, for example. or. URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002590.htm. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. In 1996, a two-year-old child who ingested at most 2 to 3 mL of Visine eye drops became dangerously lethargic and unresponsive to every stimulus except deep pain. Johnson & Johnson, the maker of Visine, said in a statement on Friday: Using tetrahydrozoline (active ingredient in Visine) on the surface of the eye has been demonstrated to be safe for self-use for over 50 years. Tetrahydrozoline is a chemical thats in many of these drops. She admitted to administering the poison to him from July 19 through July 21, 2018, an arrest warrant says. It is important for physicians to be familiar with the adverse effects of these ingestions and to be aware of the potential therapies for management. In exchange, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of up to four years in the Wyoming Women's Center. Can eating poppy seeds affect drug test results? Bongioanni, Carlos. One drop can be beneficial, one swig can be deadly: tetrahydrozoline intoxication. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. Toxicology tests showed the woman had a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline . 1 July 2014. As the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) indicated, these circumstances led to an investigation by the NCDOI, the Gaston County (NC) Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that then resulted in allegations of fraudulent life insurance claims. Significance of the imidazoline receptors in toxicology. According to investigators, the victim had ingested about 20 bottles of the eye drops after drinking Visine-laced tea and coffee from July through November 2012. Young children and older adults may be severely affected, Always taking the right dose of medication at recommended times, Avoiding drugs that might interact with tetrahydrozoline, Exercising caution while taking multiple drugs with tetrahydrozoline, Keeping medications out of reach of children in child-proof containers, For older individuals and those who tend to be forgetful, medications should be stored in single dose containers with time labels, to avoid multiple dosage, Monitor use of this medication, especially in patients who have depression or harbor suicidal thoughts and behavior, Call 911 (or your local emergency number) for emergency assistance, if symptoms are life-threatening, Call Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (or the local poison control center) and follow the recommend steps. This would not be a good prank. Eddy O, Howell JM. October 1996 (Vol. Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. His wife claimed he had succumbed to a fatal fall. Heres an ABC News segment on the case: As Ryan Miller reported for the Greenville News, the 53-year-old Clayton pled guilty tovoluntary manslaughter and tampering with a food or drug after she admitted togiving her husband Steven Clayton drinks laced with Visine.. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. If you stay within these limits, your risk of bad toxicity may be relatively low. Ingesting this substance can lead to a variety of harmful side effects such as dramatically lowering body temperature, causing severe breathing difficulty, respiratory failure, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure fluctuation, tremors, seizures and even coma. Jennings later told investigators that the woman had ingested about five bottles worth of Visine that day. It is a member of the imidazole family that can serve as decongestants and vasoconstrictors. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. The woman, whose name is not been released, suffered from numerous different symptoms that had sent her to the hospital on two separate occasions, but doctors were struggling to diagnose her illness. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. . 16th ed. It does NOT need to be an emergency. A 19-year-old Wyoming woman accused of poisoning her stepmother with eye drops has pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault charge. Its use in greater than recommended doses may cause hypertension, bradycardia, rebound hypotension, and possibly arrhythmias. According to figures provided in an email by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were no reported deaths from tetrahydrozoline from 2016 through 2019. And do not put eye drops in anyones drink, even just a few drops to prank someone. Ingesting this substance can lead to a variety of harmful side effects such as dramatically lowering body temperature, causing severe breathing difficulty, respiratory failure, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure fluctuation, tremors, seizures and even coma. She killed him with eye drops. For an adult, the ingestion of 100mg of conium or about 8 leaves of the plant is fatal. Size of the individual and the total dose are the most critical issues for causing harm, and so children are most at risk, said Wiley Chambers, MD, an ophthalmologist with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA. Why do my eyes burn after using eye drops? The teen could have faced 10 years in prison if she were to go to trial and found guilty. Alcohol. It may be mild in some and severe in others. In: Burns MM, ed. Dont do most things that he did. Hannah Kirby. Dont say wow so often. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. Get help online or Call 1-800-222-1222. This article is for information only. Before we move further to the symptoms of poisoning and analyze the tests required for its treatment, it's essential to understand the causes and risk factors that can lead to poisoning. Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Emeritus, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. "Grocer Settles Suit Out of Court." UF Health scientist lands first-ever NIH grant for a rare disorder devastating UF Health joins national effort to improve patient outcomes. A few drops of Visine brand eye drops taken internally will induce uncontrollable diarrhea. Symptoms of an overdose. Lana Sue Clayton in a 2018 booking photo. Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Accessed June 8, 2021. Subsequently, clonidine has been primarily utilized for its potent antihypertensive effect, but is used on- and off-label for a wide variety of indications. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. In our patient there was an initial hypertension and bradycardia, followed by a persistent orthostatic hypotension. Call poison control and get emergency care as soon as possible. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. Topic 16258 Version 15.0, November 2020. The products contain the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, or oxymetazoline. The poisonous effect made headlines when Lana Clayton, 52, wascharged for murdering her husband by adding redness-relieving eye drops to his drinking water for three days. 16 February 2002. Alpha-2 Adrenergic and Imidazoline Receptor Agonists: Clonidine, Dexmedetomidine, and Related Antihypertensives, Decongestants, and Sedatives. "Urban Legend Almost Kills Dad." If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Co-located with the Shands Jacksonville Hospital, the Jacksonville Health Science Center excels in education, research and patient care that expresses our abiding values of compassion, excellence, professionalism and innovation. The UF College of Nursing continually attracts and retains the highest caliber of nursing students and faculty with a passion for science and caring. COMMON BRAND NAME (S): Eye Drops, Geneye, Opti-Clear, Redness Reliever, Visine, Visine Red Eye Comfort. "Severe Nausea and Vomiting with Timolol Eye Drops." Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. In general, overdoses are common situations in the emergency departments. The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCI 0.05%. According to the material safety data sheet you should NOT induce vomiting and you should do the following: Examine the lips and mouth to ascertain whether the tissues are damaged, a possible indication that the toxic material was ingested; the absence of such signs, however, is not conclusive. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Adverts are the main source of Revenue for DoveMed. The symptoms of a suspected poisoning may vary depending on the person's age, the type of poisonous substance, the amount of poison involved, and how much time has passed since the poisoning occurred. Please remove adblock to help us create the best medical content found on the Internet. On Thursday, the woman, Lana Sue Clayton, 53, a former Veterans Affairs nurse, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing her husband, Stephen D. Clayton, 64, at their home in Clover, S.C., the documents show. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race. The girl later told police that she got the idea to use the eye drops as poison from an unrelated news story. Los Angeles Times. Of all the Visine poisoning cases studied by medical observers, we found none that mentioned diarrheal output brought about by the drug. This is a free and confidential service. "Pa. Woman Gets 2-4 Years for Poisoning Man with Visine." The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%. She admitted to doing this deliberately and surreptitiously. Both options are free for the public, and available 24 hours a day. Sinoatrial node arrest following tetrahydrozoline ingestion. In general, dont use The Wedding Crashers as a model for your behavior. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 29(1), 80-92. Lowry, J. Next got in a car accident and died. But now, court documents say the 52-year-old mother of two confessed to administering the poison to him in his water over a three-day period. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. Dr. D talks about tetrahydrozoline (the active ingredient in many over the counter eye drops) and. If the cause is not obvious or not minor, see your doctor as soon as possible, especially if there are accompanying symptoms such as loss of vision or the presence of a harpoon. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 10(4), 388-391. Just look at some recent eye dropping news. Such imaginings give us the chance to vicariously experience the joys of retribution, joys we're not likely to sample in real life, such as the following: I've heard that barmaids and cocktail waitresses have a secret for getting rid of obnoxious customers. North County Gazette. Everyone who has ever been wronged has at one time or another felt the urge to strike a counterblow. Aronson JK. In June 2014, a 22-year-old woman named Samantha Elizabeth Unger was arrested in Thurmont, Maryland, and charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. We report a case of unintentional tetrahydrozoline ingestion with cardiovascular . Also, the mental image of an enemy sent hotfooting for the toilet is a hugely satisfying one, especially in a society that views fecal output as something to be ashamed of. The main systemic effects are . That can be like taking ibuprofen for pain caused by a harpoon stuck in you without first saying, maybe, I should do something about this harpoon stuck in me.. Tetrahydrozoline is an imidazoline derivative found in several ophthalmic and nasal decongestants. Even a small ingestion can cause clinical signs of vomiting, lethargy/depression or . Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Tetra-hi what? The symptoms include, but are. Stop using Visine and call your doctor at once if you have: ongoing or worsening eye redness; eye pain; changes in your vision; The resulting symptoms are nothing, nothing at all like the Hollywood version of events. Then theres the case of Joshua Lee Hunsucker, a former paramedic in North Carolina, whos been charged with first degree murder, as described by Mark Price for the Charlotte Observer. One of her public defenders, Bryson J. Barrowclough, said in a telephone interview on Friday that Ms. Clayton had testified that she had put only one dose in his water and then tried to kill herself. Apparently, her death had a sweetheart of an insurance pay-out: $250,000. In young children, serious adverse events can occur from ingesting only a small amount (1 to 2 mL, or several drops) of tetrahydrozoline. Learn how we can help.