Interestingly, despite its reputation as a gastrointestinal irritant, diarrhea is not a common side effect of tetrahydrozoline consumption. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. 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. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. "Woman Charged with Assault by Visine Eye Drops." The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. It was said in court that she admitted to putting eye drops in his water, Leslie Robinson, assistant solicitor for York County, said in an interview on Friday. They will give you further instructions. The Turkish journal of pediatrics, 54(6), 658. . A North Carolina paramedic allegedly murdered his wife by poisoning her with Visine. Thats why you dont typically eat your contact lens. WPVI-TV [Philadelphia]. Hemlock or Conium is a highly toxic flowering plant indigenous to Europe and South Africa. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. A criminal complaint accuses Jessy R. Kurczewski, 36, of using eye drops to poison her friend Lynn Hernan at her Pewaukee, Wisconsin home. Dont say that people use only 10% of their hearts when you reveal only 10% of your true identity. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. 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. The Houston Chronicle. She had suffered from PTSD attributed to domestic abuse, he said. Sure, some causes of red eyes may be relatively benign. Hannah Kirby. The departments criminal investigations unit had received a complaint from a family member because of the insurance claim and that is why we investigated it, he said. 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. Pl drop the argument as it. You could kill the person. Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
Most cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure occur in adults, but more than one-fourth of all exposures occur in toddlers (1-2 years of age).
Symptoms Symptoms may include: Coma Difficulty breathing or no breathing Blurred vision Blue lips and fingernails Change in pupil size Changes in blood pressure (high at first, low later) Fast heartbeat Headache Irritability Low body temperature Nausea and vomiting Nervousness Seizures Tremors (unintentional trembling) Home Care Stop using such eye drops and call your doctor if you experience any other eye symptoms such as pain, changes in vision, pupil dilation, or excessively watery eyes when you are not watching the movie The Notebook. The Washington Post. Pictured here are boxes of Visine, over-the-counter eye drops produced by Johnson & Johnson. Also, dont believe the full-of-poop claims that such eyes drops can be a way of giving someone explosive diarrhea. The cause of death was listed as tetrahydrozoline poisoning and classified as a homicide, not suicide or an accident. . This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. The products contain the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, or oxymetazoline. 16th ed. In February 2013, a Pennsylvania court sentenced 33-year-old Vickie Jo Mills to two to four years in prison for putting eyedrops into her boyfriend's drinking water 10 to 12 times, causing him to suffer from nausea, vomiting, blood pressure problems and breathing trouble before blood tests revealed the presence of tetrahydrozoline in his system. Why do my eyes burn after using eye drops? by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images). Ranked among the top schools of pharmacy nationally, the college supports research, service and educational programs enhanced with online technologies. Rhyee, S. H., Traub, S. J., & Grayzel, J. Students rotate through the various clinical settings on the campus, and primary care centers and specialty care centers located throughout Jacksonville. Get help online or Call 1-800-222-1222. Poisoning with eyedrops is also the plot line of an episode of the CBS drama "CSI": There is tetrahydrozoline in the victim's drink. Flynn, George. In our patient there was an initial hypertension and bradycardia, followed by a persistent orthostatic hypotension. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. Dont say that people use only 10% of their hearts when you reveal only 10% of your true identity. 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. Many human prescription drugs have a significant potential to be toxic to small animals. One drop can be beneficial, one swig can be deadly: tetrahydrozoline intoxication. URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002590.htm. The movie I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell and the television series Orange Is The New Black both had scenes in which this happened. 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. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. Approved by: Krish Tangella MD, MBA, FCAP. Then, they were forced to leave a bar by the person who posioned them. Patient-Centered Medicine and Prevention of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. You can thank tetrahydrozoline for helping do this. 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. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. The Houston Chronicle. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. While it is true that Visine is readily obtainable (it's an non-prescription eye drop manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer), a drink spiked with it is not a sure-fire means of producing diarrhea in the one unfortunate enough to swallow it, and ingestion of such a concoction is downright dangerous, making this "harmless" form of retaliation fraught with hazard. The UFCOM-J offers accredited graduate medical education residency and fellowship programs, in addition to non-standard fellowship programs. 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. Eyedrops and nasal decongestant sprays often contain ingredients intended to reduce eye redness and nasal stuffiness. Aronson JK. 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 ]. In: Aronson JK, ed. Together we create unstoppable momentum. Established in 1923, the College of Pharmacy is the oldest college in the UF Academic Health Center. 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. October 1996 (Vol. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 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. A.D.A.M. 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. Our state-of-the-art medical center serves an urban population of 1 million from north Florida to south Georgia. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. J Emerg Med. 2004 Oct;27(3):313-4. These courses share the latest in medical knowledge, teach new patient-relationship skills and help providers deal with relevant current issues. Clinical Pediatrics. There are certainly other better ways of giving someone explosive diarrhea, not that you should ever try to give someone such misery. 746-746). 13 March 2013. Tetryzoline. Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 35, on Thursday was charged with first-degree murder in the September 2018 death of his . Together we care for our patients and our communities. 10 October 2003 (Orange County Edition; p. B3). 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. Tetryzoline. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. 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. Givens, Ann. A lawyer for Mr. Hunsucker, David Teddy, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Friday. 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. Alpha-2 Adrenergic and Imidazoline Receptor Agonists: Clonidine, Dexmedetomidine, and Related Antihypertensives, Decongestants, and Sedatives. However, make sure that the redness is not from something more serious like a bad allergic reaction, an infection, glaucoma, or a harpoon. Al-Abri, S. A., Yang, H. S., & Olson, K. R. (2014). If swallowed,the medication can cause illness and even death. "Urban Legend Almost Kills Dad." "Chills, sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Can you combine glaucoma drops to eliminate need for two doses? Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Aronson JK. Eventually, the 35-year-old Hunsucker was arrested on December 19, 2019, and also charged with first degree murder. A 33-year-old Pennsylvania woman could spend the rest of her life in prison after admitting to police that she repeatedly poisoned her boyfriend with Visine eye drops for more than three years in . 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. There is no antidote for tetryzoline or other similar imidazoline analogue poisoning, but the symptoms can be alleviated and with treatment, death is rare . North County Gazette. 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.. 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. Tetrahydrolozine may cause ocular burning, stinging, dryness, headache, insomnia, dizziness, tremors, palpitations, rebound erythema and congestion.
This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. 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. Ms. 16th ed. When consumed orally, tetrahydrozoline passes quickly through the gastrointestinal tract, rapidly reaching the blood and the central nervous system. This is a free and confidential service. Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is the accidental or intentional intake of medication containing tetrahydrozoline. We report a case of unintentional . To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. This article is for information only. Young children who consume small amounts of tetrahydrozoline (as little as one-half of one teaspoon) can develop sleepiness and difficulty breathing. In view of the above list, that advice should not be taken lightly. In March 2013, a 27-year-old mechanic named Shayne Carpenter was arrested in Grass Valley, California, for putting eye drops in his girlfriend's drink after an argument with her, causing her to feel ill. 2020 Jan 18. The sample showed a high amount of chemical from the eye drops. Stars and Stripes. 2020 Jan 17. Most recently, a California man was arrested a week ago and charged with trying to poison his girlfriend by lacing her drinks with the eye drops. Jennings reportedly admitted to the crime when she was interviewed by deputies, telling them she wanted her stepmother 'gone.'. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. Springfield News-Leader. Visine is clearly labeled for external use only and should never be swallowed.. The symptoms include, but are. 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. 7 October 2019. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. An addiction and pain medicine Nondiscrimination and Accessibility Notice, 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). Always use eyedrops and decongestant sprays according to the package label; never drink these products. The active ingredient in eye drops such as Visine is tetrahydrozoline HCI. A woman in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, was charged with first-degree murder in the poisoning death of a friend, and authorities believe she used eye drops to carry out the crime. Unintentional pediatric ophthalmic tetrahydrozoline ingestion: case files of the medical toxicology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. (2016). Seek immediate medical attention.. "Pa. Woman Gets 2-4 Years for Poisoning Man with Visine." In: Aronson JK, ed. The main systemic effects are . A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. The UF College of Nursing continually attracts and retains the highest caliber of nursing students and faculty with a passion for science and caring. Together we discover. Topic 16258 Version 15.0, November 2020. 16 September 2008. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. The danger is real, and parents are well advised to keep eye drops away from children. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. That same month, an autopsy by Waukesha County Medical Examiner Linda Biedrzycki showed that Hernan had a fatal dose of tetrahydrozolinethe main ingredient in over-the-counter eye dropsin . I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. His wife claimed he had succumbed to a fatal fall. It does NOT need to be an emergency. By
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 poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows this product. It does NOT need to be an emergency. Scared of Eye Drops? Call poison control and get emergency care as soon as possible. Swallowing this substance can result in a number of nasty effects, including: Lowering body temperature to dangerous levels 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. Vanderhart, Dirk. "Woman Accused of Trying to Kill Husband." 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. Common Symptoms of Low Grade Arsenic Toxicity. Alexis Jennings, of Natrona County, entered the plea Thursday in state district court. Clinical rotations in all the major disciplines are provided for UFCOM undergraduate medical students and elective rotations to students from other accredited schools. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. 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. The desire for revenge runs deep in all of us. 1 August 1998 (p. 373). They will give you further instructions. 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. For example, if the redness is actually blood gushing out of your eyeballs, dont just put Visine on them. Watch out for any symptoms that occur beyond your eyes including a headache, dizziness, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats. (Photo [+] by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images). With such severe and potentially deadly risks, it is just not worth the squeeze. There it can get the drop on you and slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Accessed June 8, 2021. "Woman Ordered to Pay Poisoned Roommate's Hospital Bill." ", Murdaugh Murders Timeline: Investigations, Deaths and the Collapse of a Powerful South Carolina Family, 8-Year-Old Arkansas Boy Raises More Than $65K for His Favorite Waffle House Waiter, Who Walks Miles to Work, Bryan Kohberger Decries 'Pervasive and Grotesquely Twisted Nature' of Idaho Murders Coverage in Court Document, Family Discovers Kentucky Vacation Rental House Has Secret Underground Bunker and Was Site of Grisly Murder, Lindsay Clancy: Timeline of Events in the Case of Massachusetts Mom Accused of Killing Her 3 Children, Fiance of Slain Orlando TV Reporter Plans to Have His Baby After Harvesting His Sperm Post-Mortem. . Tetrahydrozoline poisoning Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. The Clayton case is the latest involving fatal amounts of ingested tetrahydrozoline. When consumed orally, tetrahydrozoline passes quickly through the gastrointestinal tract, rapidly reaching the blood and the central nervous system, the article said. Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning may be also referred to variously as the following: Note: The drug can interact with other prescribed or non-prescribed medications in the body. In Clinical Toxicology (Vol. How Visine eye drops in the mouth can kill, here are two cases. Products containing tetrahydrozoline can interact with many prescription drugs. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. It matters not if actual harm results from the attempt the act itself is enough to land one in the hoosegow. When any ingestion is accompanied by ETOH (ethyl alcohol), it increases the toxicity level by approx 50%. For additional information visit Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus. 16th ed. Osterhoudt KC, Henretig FM. 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 Of all the Visine poisoning cases studied by medical observers, we found none that mentioned diarrheal output brought about by the drug. Lee BY. 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. [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel. The person may receive: Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that the person will recover. 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. In young children, serious adverse events can occur from ingesting only a small amount (1 to 2 mL, or several drops) of tetrahydrozoline. Lana Sue Clayton in a 2018 booking photo. 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. Find patient medical information for tetrahydrozoline ophthalmic (eye) on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. According to Michael Banks, reporting for the Shelby Star, Hunsucker had resisted an autopsy being done before his wifes body was cremated. 20 February 2002. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. Exposure is common in young children, who unintentionally ingest it, but cases have been rising in the adult population. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. This will help them in assessing the possible drug interactions within various medications and help avoid/prevent accidental or unintentional toxic drug effects. 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.. Tips for Anxious Kids and Adults. 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. Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. Constricting blood vessels in your eyes is how they get the red out., The FDA considers the risk for these products to be low as they are labeled for external use only and are clearly marked keep out of reach of children.. 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. Visine is clearly labeled for external use only and should never be swallowed., This is a BETA experience. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. A woman is accused of poisoning her husband with over-the-counter eye drops, which led to his death, according to cops. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Tetryzoline. Munchausen syndrome by proxy due to tetrahydrozoline poisoning. In 2012, 56-year-old Byron Shull spiked the milk of his 84-year-old father with Visine drops "because he thought his dad was mean and wanted to make him pay." General approach to drug poisoning in adults. 25.1K subscribers Lana Sue Clayton used Visine eye drops to poison her husband, Steven Clayton. 1-800-222-1222
UpToDate.Topic 16258 Version 15.0, November 2020. It is a member of the imidazole family that can serve as decongestants and vasoconstrictors. 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. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.