Journal of Medical Toxicology, 10(4), 388-391. 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. Yet all is not well in revenge land. WPMT-TV [York, PA]. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. Accessed June 8, 2021. 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.. 1 August 1998 (p. 373). New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, The Blavatnik Family Chelsea Medical Center, Heart - Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Mount Sinai Center for Asian Equity and Professional Development, Preparing for Surgery and Major Procedures, 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). Rani, M., & Murty, O. P. (2012). The girlfriend later discovered that Carpenter had been texting his friends to boast about the eye drops prank and called the police on him. You can thank tetrahydrozoline for helping do this. Aronson JK. We report a case of unintentional tetrahydrozoline ingestion with cardiovascular . No, she didnt just have bad aim. 1 July 2014. The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%. Yet it is not only toddlers who risk central nervous system shutdown or other dire results if they swallow Visine, as demonstrated by the following examples: Revenge seekers still not quite convinced that a Visine mickey finn won't produce the diarrheal results they crave, or that the drinking of such a potion could potentially result in a life-threatening medical crisis in the object of their prank, should consider one final fact: the act of secreting noxious substances in ingestibles for the purpose of bringing harm to others is called poisoning. Editorial team. It's easy to see that ingesting it is in fact poisoning. The Clayton case is the latest involving fatal amounts of ingested tetrahydrozoline. 16th ed. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The signs and symptoms of Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning may include: Headaches Reduced body temperature Nausea, vomiting Diarrhea Heartburn Bleeding in the stomach, stomach pain Breathing difficulties; absence of breathing Rapid heartbeat Irritability and increased nervousness Vision abnormalities including blurred vision; dilated pupils How Visine eye drops in the mouth can kill, here are two cases. "Grocer Settles Suit Out of Court." If swallowed,the medication can cause illness and even death. 16 September 2008. 2020 Jan 17. Thanks to prompt medical attention the child recovered, but not before enduring intubation and two days' worth of mechanically-assisted breathing. Copyright 1997-2023, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited without authorization. Tetrahydrozoline poisoning Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. More than 100 of these products contain an ingredient, tetrahydrozoline, that is similar to a commonly used blood pressure-lowering medication called clonidine. Otherwise, theyd be called other orifice drops. They are also called drops and not buckets because you are only supposed to use limited amounts. Wolfhagen, F.H.J., et al. Clayton's family released a statement on the allegations against his wife. Seek immediate medical attention.. Reviewed by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Emeritus, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. A North Carolina paramedic allegedly murdered his wife by poisoning her with Visine. Clinical Pediatrics. Read More. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Exposure is common in young children, who unintentionally ingest it, but cases have been rising in the adult population. The symptoms include, but are. To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. Program completed entirely in Jacksonville. Since blood is red, unless you are Vulcan, less blood may mean less redness. It could be from seasonal allergies, being tired, or smoking marijuana, for example. You could kill the person. Even a small ingestion can cause clinical signs of vomiting, lethargy/depression or . 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. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. Lasala, G. S., Vearrier, D., Boroughf, W. J., & Osterhoudt, K. C. (2014, August). Sinoatrial node arrest following tetrahydrozoline ingestion. When consumed by mouth, they may result in serious toxicity and even death. 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. [Medford, OR] Mail Tribune. ; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may . The College of Medicine, the largest of six colleges at the University of Florida Academic Health Center, opened in 1956 with a mission to increase Florida's supply of highly qualified physicians, provide advanced health-care services to Florida residents and foster discovery in health research. In general, overdoses are common situations in the emergency departments. Clinical Toxicology, 52(5), 454-469. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. 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. 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. We offer a a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs as well as M.S. "Generally, symptoms can occur in as little as one hour, peaking at eight hours, and resolving . In exchange, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of up to four years in the Wyoming Women's Center. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. The UF College of Nursing continually attracts and retains the highest caliber of nursing students and faculty with a passion for science and caring. Death comes in the form of paralysis-your mind is wide awake, but . The chemical is found in Visine, Murine Plus, Altazine, Clarine and some other over-the-counter eye drops, according to Drugs.com. Get help online or Call 1-800-222-1222. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 29(1), 80-92. Swallowing this substance can result in a number of nasty effects, including: Pfizer's cautions to users of Visine include: "If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away." Tetrahydrozoline poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows this product. 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. 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. These courses share the latest in medical knowledge, teach new patient-relationship skills and help providers deal with relevant current issues. A few eyedrops in someone's drink can apparently leave him sitting on the toilet for the rest of the evening with a nasty case of "the runs.". 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. She admitted to doing this deliberately and surreptitiously. Toxicology tests showed the woman had a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline . She had suffered from PTSD attributed to domestic abuse, he said. Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is the accidental or intentional intake of medication containing tetrahydrozoline. [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel. The signs and symptoms of Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning can vary from one individual to another. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. Springfield News-Leader. 10 October 2003 (Orange County Edition; p. B3). Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. Hemlock or Conium is a highly toxic flowering plant indigenous to Europe and South Africa. 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. 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. Poisoning with eyedrops is also the plot line of an episode of the CBS drama "CSI": There is tetrahydrozoline in the victim's drink. 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. Paksu, M. S., Paksu, S., Akkus, T., & Baysal, K. (2012). InTech. Contact Poison Control right away if you suspect a poisoning. 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. 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. (Photo: Getty Images). You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. Students rotate through the various clinical settings on the campus, and primary care centers and specialty care centers located throughout Jacksonville. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. 2020 Jan 18. 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. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. 9 January 2009. Ms. Clayton had originally been charged with murder after her arrest in August 2018, the arrest warrant said. ", 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. General information: Symptoms of poisoning may even occur after several hours; therefore medical observation for at least 48 hours after the accident. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. 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. "Crater Lake Worker Called Visine Poisoning a 'Harmless Prank.' When any ingestion is accompanied by ETOH (ethyl alcohol), it increases the toxicity level by approx 50%. 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 This is not an all-inclusive list. 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. Munchausen syndrome by proxy due to tetrahydrozoline poisoning. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. UF Health Neuromedicine Neuromedicine Hospital, College of Public Health & Health Professions, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Center for Health Equity & Quality Research, Find Information on Medical Conditions & Services, College of Public Health & Health Professions (PHHP), Clinical & Translational Science Institute. stinging or burning of the eye blurred vision increased eye redness or irritation If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using tetrahydrozoline eye drops and call your doctor immediately: headache sweating fast or irregular heartbeat nervousness When a bottle of product containing imidazolines is chewed, it can result in severe poisoning in pets - even death, when untreated. Accessed June 8, 2021. 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 our patient there was an initial hypertension and bradycardia, followed by a persistent orthostatic hypotension. Tetrahydrozoline is a chemical thats in many of these drops. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. Most cases of poisoning are not criminal, but accidental by children or petswho find the small bottles of odorless, clear solution. 19 September 1997 (p. A30). A criminal complaint accuses Jessy R. Kurczewski, 36, of using eye drops to poison her friend Lynn Hernan at her Pewaukee, Wisconsin home. Swallowing this substance can result in a number of nasty effects, including: Lowering body temperature to dangerous levels