International Society of Refractive Surgery. In: Burns MM, ed. Butin real life, the prank is no laughing matter. Swallowing eye drops containing tetrahydrozoline is harmful and potentially life-threatening. With such severe and potentially deadly risks, it is just not worth the squeeze. , updated Last month the American Academy of Ophthalmology used the Clayton case to point out the potential dangers in the misuse of the blood vessel constrictors. These courses share the latest in medical knowledge, teach new patient-relationship skills and help providers deal with relevant current issues. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. 16th ed. Because tetrahydrozoline ingestion can cause significant toxicity in young children, it is very important for parents and caregivers of young children to be aware of this potentially very dangerous poison. Symptoms of an overdose include drowsiness, slow breathing or absence of breathing, slow heartbeat, hypothermia and possibly even coma, it said. Eyedrops and nasal decongestant sprays often contain ingredients intended to reduce eye redness and nasal stuffiness. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. In Clinical Toxicology (Vol. "Urban Legend Almost Kills Dad." Common Symptoms of Low Grade Arsenic Toxicity. UpToDate. We present a case of tetrahydrozoline ingestion in an adult who presented with chest pain, bradycardia, mental status depression, miosis, and other signs and symptoms of imidazole compound poisoning. 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. Alexis Jennings, of Natrona County, entered the plea Thursday in state district court. No, she didnt just have bad aim. She was a manager at Pizza Hut in 2011, when a disgruntled co-worker spiked her soda with eye drops. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. Decongestants (Toxicity) - Toxicology - Merck Veterinary Manual Cops Say She Poisoned a Friend With Eye DropsThen Staged a - Yahoo! Remember that movies are not the same as real life: these products do not cause diarrhea, but they may cause life-threatening health issues and even death after people drink them. Aronson JK. That's when detectives told Kurczewski about the tetrahydrozoline the . Some reports show that patients who ingest tetrahydrozaline have severe drops in blood pressure and heart rate, which may seem counterintuitive, considering eye drops are meant to constrict blood. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. She admitted to doing this deliberately and surreptitiously. It may be mild in some and severe in others. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Sure, some causes of red eyes may be relatively benign. Wolfhagen, F.H.J., et al. The teen could have faced 10 years in prison if she were to go to trial and found guilty. Eye drops go in your eyes. It is commonly found in drops that are intended to relive irritation and get the red out. The products are safe when used as directed, by narrowing blood vessels, the Food and Drug Administration says. Dont say that people use only 10% of their hearts when you reveal only 10% of your true identity. Tetrahydrozoline or tetryzoline is an alpha agonist (substances that help blood vessel constriction) found in certain eye drops and nasal solutions, It is an over-the-counter medication that is commonly used for children and adults. Tetryzoline. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. A.D.A.M. Accessed June 8, 2021. Consuming tetrahydrozoline has several unpleasant symptoms, none of which typically include diarrhea. Commonly used drops marketed to reduce redness in the eyes typically contain tetrahydrozoline, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1954 and belongs to a family of drugs called imidazoles. If you stay within these limits, your risk of bad toxicity may be relatively low. 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. Prolonged cardiovascular effects after unintentional ingestion of The products contain the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, or oxymetazoline. Woman Admits to Poisoning Boyfriend With Visine Drops More than 1,600 cases of oral exposures are reported to United States poison centers annually (1,2). Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. Lowry, J. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Signs or symptoms of dehydration excessive thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness Neurological symptoms such as blurry vision, muscle weakness and tingling in the arms Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Putting two drops in both eyes six times a day would only equal about one milliliter of fluid. Swallowing this substance can result in a number of nasty effects, including: Lowering body temperature to dangerous levels 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. To avoid mishap one probably ought to take 150% the minimum lethal dose. 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. The person may receive: Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that the person will recover.Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. Red-Eye Drops: Poisonous to Drink, Safe If Used Correctly A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. The Clayton case is the latest involving fatal amounts of ingested tetrahydrozoline. Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. 16th ed. Police say she poisoned him- with eye drops. Several systems of the body, such as the respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, and ENT may be affected. A Franklin woman allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a family friend she was caring for, fatally poisoned her with eyedrops, and staged the scene to . PDF Page 1/8 Safety Data Sheet - Cayman Chem The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. In an online newsletter, titled Red-Eye Drops: Poisonous to Drink, Safe If Used Correctly, it said that intentionally or accidentally drinking eye drops could lead to toxic blood levels. Included in the symptoms are vomiting, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. Copyright 1997-2023, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited without authorization. Clayton's family released a statement on the allegations against his wife. Constricting blood vessels in your eyes is how they get the red out.. Visine side effects. Each of the five "pranksters" pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct and received sentences of. In general, be careful about using such eye drops, even if they go where they are supposed to go. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If swallowed,the medication can cause illness and even death. National Capital Poison Center (USA)3201 New Mexico Ave, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20016Administrative Line: (202) 362-3867Emergency Line: 1 (800) 222-1222Fax: (202) 362-8377Email: pc@poison.orgWebsite: http://www.poison.org, American Association of Poison Control Centers (USA)515 King St., Suite 510, Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 894-1858Email: info@aapcc.orgWebsite: http://www.aapcc.org, National Poisons Centre (New Zealand)Dunedin School of Medicine, University of OtagoPO Box 913 Dunedin 9054, New ZealandPhone: 0800 POISON (0800 764 766)Website: http://www.poisons.co.nz, NSW Poisons Information Centre (Australia)Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth Street, Westmead NSW 2145, AustraliaPhone: +61 13 11 26Email: nswpoisons@chw.edu.auWebsite: https://www.poisonsinfo.nsw.gov.au, British Columbia Drug and Poison Information Centre (Canada)Room 0063, BC Centre for Disease Control655 West 12th AvenueVancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 CanadaPhone: (604) 682-5050Toll-Free: 1 (800) 567-8911Fax: (604) 707-2807Website: http://www.capcc.ca, Poisons Information Centre (South Africa)Room 411, Institute of Child HealthRed Cross Children's HospitalKlipfontein Road, Rondebosch, 7700, Cape Town South AfricaPhone: +27 21 658 5308Fax: +27 21 650 4492Email: poisonsinformation@uct.ac.zaWebsite: https://www.afritox.co.za, National Poisons Information Service (United Kingdom)City Hospital Dudley Rd, Birmingham United Kingdom B187QHPhone: +44 844 892 0111Fax: +44 121 507 55 88Email: mail@npis.orgWebsite: http://www.npis.org, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002590.htm (accessed on 06/20/2017), https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+7471 (accessed on 06/20/2017), https://www.drugs.com/cdi/tetrahydrozoline-eye-drops.html (accessed on 06/20/2017), https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm253338.htm (accessed on 06/20/2017). 10 October 2003 (Orange County Edition; p. B3). Also in June 2006, Kristine Anzalone served her roommate, Joseph Gentissi Jr., an iced tea spiked with Visine. Symptoms of poisonings. and Ph.D. degrees in Veterinary Medical Sciences. Imidazoline Poisoning in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment Tetrahydrozoline - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 29(1), 80-92. The University of Florida Academic Health Center - the most comprehensive academic health center in the Southeast - is dedicated to high-quality programs of education, research, patient care and public service. Swallowing this substance can result in a number of nasty effects, including: Coma Difficulty breathing or no breathing Blurred vision, change in pupil size Blue lips and fingernails Fast or slow heartbeat, changes in blood pressure (high at first, low later) Headache The person may receive: Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that the person will recover. Scared of Eye Drops? 539-540). 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 Hemlock or Conium is a highly toxic flowering plant indigenous to Europe and South Africa. 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. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. Fact or Fiction: Will Visine in a Drink Cause Diahhrea? Subsequently, clonidine has been primarily utilized for its potent antihypertensive effect, but is used on- and off-label for a wide variety of indications. [Medford, OR] Mail Tribune. If you suspect someone has ingested tetrahydrozoline, do not try to make the person vomit it back up as that may actually increase their absorption of the chemical. There it can get the drop on you and slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels. This is a free and confidential service. General approach to drug poisoning in adults. Food poisoning - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic 16 September 2008. Clinical rotations in all the major disciplines are provided for UFCOM undergraduate medical students and elective rotations to students from other accredited schools. Ranked among the top schools of pharmacy nationally, the college supports research, service and educational programs enhanced with online technologies. 20 February 2002. Nardo, Melissa. "Severe Nausea and Vomiting with Timolol Eye Drops." Its a different story if eye drops go down your mouth. The person may receive: Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that the person will recover. Common signs of poisoning in humans are as follows:-. Its use in greater than recommended doses may cause hypertension, bradycardia, rebound hypotension, and possibly arrhythmias. 2020 Jan 18. HIE Multimedia - Tetrahydrozoline poisoning - A.D.A.M Symptoms of Imidazoline Poisoning in Dogs The amount of imidazoline your dog ingested will determine the severity of the symptoms and how quickly they manifest. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. Saturday's installment of "48 Hours" examines the strange case of Lana Clayton, a nurse who fatally poisoned her millionaire husband by lacing his drinks with Visine. When consumed orally, tetrahydrozoline passes quickly through the gastrointestinal tract, rapidly reaching the blood and the central nervous system.