(2012). 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. We report a case of unintentional . Answered Apr 20, 2022. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. 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. To do their thing, such eye drops should go into your, you guessed it, eyes. 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. The cause of death was listed as tetrahydrozoline poisoning and classified as a homicide, not suicide or an accident. This is not an all-inclusive list. The defendant initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but had a change of heart this week. Its use in greater than recommended doses may cause hypertension, bradycardia, rebound hypotension, and possibly arrhythmias. The "Visine slipped into the drink" pay back carries additional appeal because it seems to offer an effective yet harmless form of retaliation that could be easily and furtively administered even by the wimpiest of revenge seekers. 20:09 GMT 22 Mar 2013. Cats given Tylenol die a slow and painful death as their cells . Eventually, the 35-year-old Hunsucker was arrested on December 19, 2019, and also charged with first degree murder. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. This is a free and confidential service. I felt awful, she told Inside Edition. Young children who consume small amounts of tetrahydrozoline (as little as one-half of one teaspoon) can develop sleepiness and difficulty breathing. Ginger Watson knows what it is like to be poisoned by eye drops. 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. Ms. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. The Washington Post. WOIO-TV [Cleveland]. An act of spite that forces the victim into making repeated visits to the john is regarded as not only extremely inconveniencing to him, but degrading as well. Accessed June 8, 2021. Forbes. The chemical in eye drops, tetrahydrozoline, works great on the eyes, but if swallowed in significant quantities, it can attack the nervous system and be deadly. 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. Stop using Visine and call your doctor at once if you have: ongoing or worsening eye redness; eye pain; changes in your vision; Seek medical help right away. When investigators contacted the husband he reported experiencing stomach problems for the past two months, and poison control personnel informed a detective that ingesting too much Visine "would put a person in a coma with several other serious symptoms. 2020 Jan 18. Get help online or Call 1-800-222-1222. Tetrahydrozoline can be absorbed through your gastrointestinal tract into your main blood circulation much more readily and then travel to your heart and central nervous system. Butin real life, the prank is no laughing matter. A.D.A.M. Ive reached out to Visine and Johnson & Johnson for comment on these cases. The drug may be sold under brand names Eyesine, Geneye, Murine Tears Plus, Optigene 3, Tyzine, Visine Original and Advanced Relief among others, Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is the accidental or intentional intake of medication containing tetrahydrozoline, The condition is diagnosed based upon the clinical history, combination of signs and symptoms, and additional tests (that may include, in some cases, radiological studies and laboratory tests), Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is caused by the intake of large amounts of tetrahydrozoline containing medicated solutions, This intake could be accidental, or in some cases intentional, to bring self-harm, Breathing difficulties; absence of breathing, Vision abnormalities including blurred vision; dilated pupils, Bluish discoloration of lips and beneath fingernails, If the individual with Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is in a coma, or is experiencing life-threatening symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency help number) immediately, Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (or your local poison control center) for further instructions, Provide them with information such as dosage, type of drug taken, strength and time of ingestion of medication, age, weight and general health status of affected individual, Confirm that the airways are protected; also, ensure breathing and the presence of pulse, Unless instructed by a healthcare professional, DO NOT induce vomiting in the affected individual, Take individual to emergency room (ER) for further treatment, Always try to take the medication strip/bottle/container to the ER, Medically manage symptoms; provide breathing support, if necessary, Administer activated charcoal to avoid absorbance of drug in the body, Administer laxatives for elimination of drug from the body, Administer fluids by an intravenous drip line, The individual who overdosed, or someone near, should call 911 for emergency assistance (or the local emergency number), They should also call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 (or the local poison control center) and follow instructions, The prognosis of Tetrahydrozoline Overdose is dependent on the amount of drug consumed, time between ingestion and treatment, severity of the symptoms, as well as general health status of the patient, If the individual can recover from the symptoms within a period of 24 hours, with adequate medication and support, the outcome is generally good, In case of severe symptoms including abnormal heart-rates, seizures, and coma, it may considerably worsen the outcome. 9 January 2009. More than 100 of these products contain an ingredient, tetrahydrozoline, that is similar to a commonly used blood pressure-lowering medication called clonidine. In the 2005 comedy "Wedding Crashers," Owen Wilson's character puts a few eye drops in the drink of love rival Sack Lodge, played byBradley Cooper. In June 2006, five Wisconsin high school students trying to pull the Visine prank poured about a quarter of a bottle of the eyedrops into a classmate's water. J Emerg Med. While they are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-the-counter use, avoid using such medications unless you really need them. Our state-of-the-art medical center serves an urban population of 1 million from north Florida to south Georgia. 1 August 1998 (p. 373). If you are uncertain, call your veterinarian or an . [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel. Clinical effects from ingestion of tetrahydrozoline have included drowsiness, coma, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension, hypotonia, muscle flaccidity and hypothermia ( 3-6, 9-11 ). On Thursday, Lana Sue Clayton was sentenced to 25-years in prison for voluntary manslaughter. At the center of the case is the use of the chemical tetrahydrozoline, which is an active ingredient in eye drops that can be purchased without a prescription. . Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. Sightings: In an episode of television's CSI ("Revenge Is Best Served Cold," original air date 26 September 2002), a drink spiked in this fashion caused a death when the eye drops initiated a fatal reaction with chocolate the victim had eaten. 20 February 2002. Nunnally, Derrick. Dont say that people use only 10% of their hearts when you reveal only 10% of your true identity. You can thank tetrahydrozoline for helping do this. Visine is clearly labeled for external use only and should never be swallowed.. 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. TETRAHYDROZOLINE (tet-ra-hye-DROZ-oh-leen) is a decongestant. Dont do most things that he did. In: Aronson JK, ed. A lawyer for Mr. Hunsucker, David Teddy, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Friday. The UF College of Pharmacy-Jacksonville offers a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) In April 2015, a New Jersey high school student was, In October 2019, a food-service worker at Crater Lake National Park named Christopher Michael Morrison was.
The mouth may have a metallic taste and the breath emits a garlic type of odor. I will drop in updates here accordingly. This is a free and confidential service. Visine may cause serious side effects. Investigators have said Jennings wanted her stepmother dead because the teen told the woman she had molested a young girl, and the stepmother revealed the secret to Jennings' then-boyfriend. Drinking it can (and has) caused severe depression of the central nervous system. 19 June 2009. It does NOT need to be an emergency. The UFHSC-J is a clinical teaching site for the Gainesville-based College of Nursing. One thing tetrahydrozoline has not been known to do is to cause sudden onset bouts of severe diarrhea. Paksu, M. S., Paksu, S., Akkus, T., & Baysal, K. (2012). Springfield News-Leader. Seems they use the eye medication Visine for a little Montezuma's revenge. Toxicology tests showed the woman had a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline . Clayton's family released a statement on the allegations against his wife. Police said Lana Clayton poisoned her 64-year-old husband, Stephen, with eye drops. Associated Press. 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. 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. 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. Your eyes may be bigger than your stomach, but these body parts are just not the same. Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Emeritus, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. 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. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Lana Sue Clayton in a 2018 booking photo. In February, a 33-year-old Pennsylvania woman was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting that she had put the medicine into her boyfriend's drinking water a dozen times since 2009. Tetryzoline was patented in 1954, and came into medical use in 1959. . While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. Because cats cannot metabolize acetaminophen, it builds up in the blood. 15 February 2013. Its use in greater than recommended doses may cause hypertension, bradycardia, rebound hypotension, and possibly arrhythmias. 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. These courses share the latest in medical knowledge, teach new patient-relationship skills and help providers deal with relevant current issues. The danger is real, and parents are well advised to keep eye drops away from children. and Ph.D. degrees in Veterinary Medical Sciences. Seek immediate medical attention.. A woman is accused of poisoning her husband with over-the-counter eye drops, which led to his death, according to cops. Dont crash weddings to hook up with strangers. Call 911 right away if the individual collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened. Tetrahydrozoline poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows this product. Clayton, you sure have tangled this one up, he said. Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. Aronson JK. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Tetrahydrozoline, a derivative of imidazoline, is widely used for the symptomatic relief of conjunctival and nasal congestion; however, intentional or unintentional high doses can result in toxicity manifested by hypotension, tachycardia, and CNS depression. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. Clinical Toxicology, 52(5), 454-469. This article is for information only. They will give you further instructions. Clonidine and topical imidazolines exposure in toddlers. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride | C13H17ClN2 | CID 10648 - structure, chemical names, physical and chemical properties, classification, patents, literature, biological . Tetryzoline is found in a wide array of over-the-counter . Always use eyedrops and decongestant sprays according to the package label; never drink these products. Owen Wilsons hair wouldnt fly on most people. She admitted to doing this deliberately and surreptitiously. Not your mouth or other orifices. Approved by: Krish Tangella MD, MBA, FCAP. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. "Central Nervous System Depression Following Accidental Ingestion of Visine Eye Drops." It then grabs onto the surface of your cat's red blood cells in the spots normally used to carry oxygen to the tissues. 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. They include rapid heart beat, nausea,. Dont do what the Owen Wilson character did in the movie Wedding Crashers. 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). Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. 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. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. Apparently, her death had a sweetheart of an insurance pay-out: $250,000. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. The sample showed a high amount of chemical from the eye drops. A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. Foreign objects like batteries and toys. The Houston Chronicle. This will help them in assessing the possible drug interactions within various medications and help avoid/prevent accidental or unintentional toxic drug effects. Yet if Visine doesn't cause diarrhea, it has done things far more terrible. ; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may . 16th ed. On Friday, Barry Smith, spokesman for the department, said that Ms. Hunsucker was an organ donor and that, although she died in 2018, samples of her blood were tested after the case was referred to the department. 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. Exposure is common in young children, who unintentionally ingest it, but cases have been rising in the adult population. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Police say she poisoned him- with eye drops. Call poison control and get emergency care as soon as possible. All Rights Reserved. UF Health scientist lands first-ever NIH grant for a rare disorder devastating UF Health joins national effort to improve patient outcomes. Together we discover. 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. 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. When any ingestion is accompanied by ETOH (ethyl alcohol), it increases the toxicity level by approx 50%. Less than a mother later, the stepmother required medical help for similar symptoms. Please remove adblock to help us create the best medical content found on the Internet. Munchausen syndrome by proxy due to tetrahydrozoline poisoning. It could be from seasonal allergies, being tired, or smoking marijuana, for example. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. In the South Carolina case, the traces of tetrahydrozoline were found in Mr. Claytons body during the autopsy, the warrant said. A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. Flynn, George. Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. or. With such severe and potentially deadly risks, it is just not worth the squeeze. 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. Hemlock or Conium is a highly toxic flowering plant indigenous to Europe and South Africa. 7 October 2019. You could kill the person. More than 1,600 cases of oral exposures are reported to United States poison centers annually (1,2). Aronson JK. Sometimes poison doesn't cause any symptoms. 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 You let him suffer for three days., I did impulsively put the Visine in Stevens drink, but I just did it to make him uncomfortable, Ms. Clayton said in court, referring to a common eye drop, according to The Associated Press. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. She was hospitalized with a multitude of symptoms, but fortunately survived. Tetrahydrozoline causes constriction of blood vessels when it is applied directly on the eye; this reduces eye redness. Thank. Tips for Anxious Kids and Adults.
Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is the accidental or intentional intake of medication containing tetrahydrozoline. The UF College of Dentistry is the only public-funded dental school in Florida and is recognized as one of the top U.S. dental schools for the quality of its educational programs, oral health research enterprise and commitment to patient care and service. Mills said she wanted her boyfriend to pay more attention to her. Rani, M., & Murty, O. P. (2012). URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002590.htm. UpToDate. The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. In a scene from the 2005 movie Wedding Crashers, Owen Wilsons character adds eye drops to another characters drink with the intent of causing gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Patient-Centered Medicine and Prevention of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Typically, correct use is no more than two drops in your eyes six times a day. Get ophthalmologist-reviewed tips and information about eye health and preserving your vision. 25.1K subscribers Lana Sue Clayton used Visine eye drops to poison her husband, Steven Clayton. The person may receive: Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that the person will recover. In young children, serious adverse events can occur from ingesting only a small amount (1 to 2 mL, or several drops) of tetrahydrozoline. 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. Stephen Clayton, a millionaire businessman,lived with his wife in a South Carolina mansion that is a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation.
All medications can have side effects. Many of these types of OTC products do not have child-resistant closures, so they should be stored out of the reach of children. Swenson K. His wife said he died falling down the stairs. What a tangled web we weave, Judge Paul M. Burch said at the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court hearing in York, S.C., on Thursday, according to video from WCNC. According to Michael Banks, reporting for the Shelby Star, Hunsucker had resisted an autopsy being done before his wifes body was cremated. You dont want them putting even a few milliliters of the stuff into their mouths. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. Editorial team. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. Examples of brands that may contain tetrahydrozoline or related compounds include Visine, Clear Eyes, and Murine. Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. 19 September 1997 (p. A30). Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. Gentissi experienced vomiting and bleeding from his rectum, and Anzalone eventually agreed to a plea bargain with prosecutors under which she was ordered to pay $10,000 in hospital bills, serve three years' probation, and obey an order of protection. Constricting blood vessels in your eyes is how they get the red out.. He was found dead in the homeon July 21. When used in the eyes as directed to reduce redness, these types of eye drops are not absorbed systemically in amounts that lead to toxicity. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Instead, loosen any tight clothing that they may be wearing, such as a belt, a necktie, skinny jeans, or a Black Widows costume. The student responsible has been charged with tampering with a drink with intent to cause harm. For additional information visit Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus. Eye drops go in your eyes. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. Tetrahydrozoline poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows this product. Hannah Kirby. If needed, administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Immediately use thewebPOISONCONTROLonline tool or call 1-800-222-1222. This symptom is a precursor to difficulty speaking. Tetrahydrozoline or tetryzoline is an alpha agonist (substances that help blood vessel constriction) found in certain eye drops and nasal solutions. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. There it can get the drop on you and slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels.