Dr. D talks about tetrahydrozoline (the active ingredient in many over the counter eye drops) and. Ms. Clayton had originally been charged with murder after her arrest in August 2018, the arrest warrant said. Thanks to prompt medical attention the child recovered, but not before enduring intubation and two days' worth of mechanically-assisted breathing. The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. Vaso stands for vessel as in blood vessel and constrictor means make more narrow. When blood vessels become more narrow, less blood can flow through them. There are certainly other better ways of giving someone explosive diarrhea, not that you should ever try to give someone such misery. Many human prescription drugs have a significant potential to be toxic to small animals. 16th ed. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. The UF College of Veterinary Medicine is Florida's only veterinary college and provides many unique educational programs for students and services aimed at helping pets, wildlife and endangered species. A few drops of Visine brand eye drops taken internally will induce uncontrollable diarrhea. 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. Included in the symptoms are vomiting, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. 746-746). The victim, Rudy Trabanino of Houston, became violently ill and had to be hospitalized for several days with acute pain and a variety of serious medical problems. Eye drops go in your eyes. Always read the label before using any over-the-counter (OTC) product. 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. Children are most at risk of Visine poisoning Most cases of poisoning are not criminal, but accidental by children or pets who find the small bottles of odorless, clear solution. 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 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. Interestingly, despite its reputation as a gastrointestinal irritant, diarrhea is not a common side effect of tetrahydrozoline consumption. "Urban Legend Almost Kills Dad." ; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may . Symptoms of an overdose include drowsiness, slow breathing or absence of breathing, slow heartbeat, hypothermia and possibly even coma, it said. The chemical is found in Visine, Murine Plus, Altazine, Clarine and some other over-the-counter eye drops, according to Drugs.com. 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.. 7 October 2019. Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride | C13H17ClN2 | CID 10648 - structure, chemical names, physical and chemical properties, classification, patents, literature, biological . That's when detectives told Kurczewski about the tetrahydrozoline the . 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. Visine may cause serious side effects. 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.". It does NOT need to be an emergency. Bongioanni, Carlos. 35; pp. Reports of significant toxicity from tetrahydrozoline ingestion are unusual but have occured primarily in small children after unintentional ingestion (3-63, 6). We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. According to Michael Banks, reporting for the Shelby Star, Hunsucker had resisted an autopsy being done before his wifes body was cremated. You can thank tetrahydrozoline for helping do this. , 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.. To do their thing, such eye drops should go into your, you guessed it, eyes. The main systemic effects are . Tetryzoline was patented in 1954, and came into medical use in 1959. . 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. Clinical effects from ingestion of tetrahydrozoline have included drowsiness, coma, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension, hypotonia, muscle flaccidity and hypothermia ( 3-6, 9-11 ). No, she didnt just have bad aim. 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. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD or. The desire for revenge runs deep in all of us. They will give you further instructions. (2012). 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. Dont say that people use only 10% of their hearts when you reveal only 10% of your true identity. A woman is accused of poisoning her husband with over-the-counter eye drops, which led to his death, according to cops. Frank Shull nearly died as a result, spending one month in the hospital and another month in rehab. 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. 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. A.D.A.M. Medical Toxicology Physician, Call This symptom is a precursor to difficulty speaking. Ive reached out to Visine and Johnson & Johnson for comment on these cases. WOIO-TV [Cleveland]. You could kill the person. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. I felt awful, she told Inside Edition. 16 February 2002. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 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. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. While the end result of this prank created a funny and memorable dinner party scene, the poisonous effects of eye drops are much more serious in real life. 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. They will give you further instructions. WPMT-TV [York, PA]. UpToDate.Topic 16258 Version 15.0, November 2020. Wahi, M. M., Stone, K. V., Chance, M., & Miller, C. E. (2017). 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. One thing tetrahydrozoline has not been known to do is to cause sudden onset bouts of severe diarrhea. Contact Poison Control right away if you suspect a poisoning. For an adult, the ingestion of 100mg of conium or about 8 leaves of the plant is fatal. Less than a mother later, the stepmother required medical help for similar symptoms. Whileeye dropscan be dangerous if swallowed, experts say the chemical used to get the red out of your eyes is safe when used correctly. The person may receive: Survival past 24 hours is usually a good sign that the person will recover. A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. 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. 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. 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. In general, be careful about using such eye drops, even if they go where they are supposed to go. 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. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. I will drop in updates here accordingly. The smaller the body size, the less thats needed to cause major problems and even be life threatening. (Photo [+] by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images). 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.. Seek medical help right away. Products containing tetrahydrozoline can interact with many prescription drugs. UpToDate. 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.. Patient-Centered Medicine and Prevention of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Visit MyUFHealth to get an estimate for your cost for the most common medical procedures. Subsequently, clonidine has been primarily utilized for its potent antihypertensive effect, but is used on- and off-label for a wide variety of indications. 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. Instead, loosen any tight clothing that they may be wearing, such as a belt, a necktie, skinny jeans, or a Black Widows costume. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel. Pictured here are boxes of Visine, over-the-counter eye drops produced by Johnson & Johnson. Acetaminophen. 14 November 2006. The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%. 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.. Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. Paksu, M. S., Paksu, S., Akkus, T., & Baysal, K. (2012). And do not put eye drops in anyones drink, even just a few drops to prank someone. Reza, H.G. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. It does NOT need to be an emergency. In young children, serious adverse events can occur from ingesting only a small amount (1 to 2 mL, or several drops) of tetrahydrozoline. This article is for information only. Police say she poisoned him- with eye drops. This article is for information only. A lawyer for Mr. Hunsucker, David Teddy, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Friday. The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. Hannah Kirby. If you or a loved one drank eyedrops or nasal decongestant sprays by accident or on purpose, do not wait for symptoms to occur. Answered Apr 20, 2022. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. Tetryzoline. You dont want them putting even a few milliliters of the stuff into their mouths. This would not be a good prank. Dont do most things that he did. Poisoning with eyedrops is also the plot line of an episode of the CBS drama "CSI": There is tetrahydrozoline in the victim's drink. A North Carolina paramedic is accused of using an ingredient found in eye drops and nasal spray to cause the death of his wife in 2018.. Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 35, appeared in a Gaston County court . Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. MILWAUKEE Prosecutors have accused a suburban Milwaukee woman of killing her friend by poisoning her with eyedrops. Stars and Stripes. 13 March 2013. 4 Available since the 1950s, tetryzoline is a selective 1-receptor agonist 5 that is used as an ocular and nasal decongestant. Dont do what the Owen Wilson character did in the movie Wedding Crashers. 1 August 1998 (p. 373). Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. In general, sleepiness or drowsiness are symptoms of concern if children particularly those below the age of 6 consume more than 1 milliliter in a day., Clinical pharmacologist and president of PharmaLogic Development, Inc., Gary Novack, PhD, agrees. Vanderhart, Dirk. 9 January 2009. They include rapid heart beat, nausea,. (Photo: Getty Images). Most cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure occur in adults, but more than one-fourth of all exposures occur in toddlers (1-2 years of age). The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Read More. It should never be ingested for the consequences can even be fatal The amount will vary, even a small amount can be lethal. 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. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. There are approximately 130 cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure reported each year to the online poison control toolwebPOISONCONTROL. Such interactions may enhance the therapeutic effects of the drug or other medications being taken, resulting in undesired side effects (such as an overdose). 52 VANDERBILT AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA: INFORMA HEALTHCARE. This would be considered. Typically, correct use is no more than two drops in your eyes six times a day. Lana Sue Clayton in a 2018 booking photo. Toxicology tests showed the woman had a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline . Seek medical help right away. Founded in 1956, the University of Florida College of Nursing is the premier educational institution for nursing in the state of Florida and is ranked in the top 10 percent of all nursing graduate programs nationwide. The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%. 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. Then, they were forced to leave a bar by the person who posioned them. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 16:47 (UTC). (2016). and Ph.D. degrees in Veterinary Medical Sciences. Using tetrahydrozoline (active ingredient in Visine) on the surface of the eye has been demonstrated to be safe for self-use for more than 50 years. "Airman Sentenced to Life in Prison." The danger is real, and parents are well advised to keep eye drops away from children. By now, most people know that Tylenol (acetaminophen) will KILL cats. She killed him with eye drops. Stars and Stripes. 25.1K subscribers Lana Sue Clayton used Visine eye drops to poison her husband, Steven Clayton. Givens, Ann. UpToDate. Wolfhagen, F.H.J., et al. . Tomassoni, A. J. 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. Lana Sue Clayton was sentenced to 25 years in prison after she added eye drops to her husbands drinks in such large amounts that the active chemical killed him, according to the authorities. 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. Tetrahydrozoline poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows this product. UPDATE (1/22/2020): Johnson & Johnson has provided the following statement about the cases: Were deeply saddened to learn of this news and are devastated that anyone would use our product for such an abhorrent act. The student responsible has been charged with tampering with a drink with intent to cause harm. When consumed orally, tetrahydrozoline passes quickly through the gastrointestinal tract, rapidly reaching the blood and the central nervous system, the article said. How Visine eye drops in the mouth can kill, here are two cases. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. Always use eyedrops and decongestant sprays according to the package label; never drink these products. "Grocer Settles Suit Out of Court." When consumed by mouth, they may result in serious toxicity and even death. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. 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. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 10(4), 388-391. With such severe and potentially deadly risks, it is just not worth the squeeze. A., & Brown, J. T. (2014). 7 September 1997 (p. A32). The Washington Post. Significance of the imidazoline receptors in toxicology. Keep in mind that such eye drops primarily help with your appearance but do not necessarily address whats actually causing the redness. October 1996 (Vol. It's easy to see that ingesting it is in fact poisoning. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 29(1), 80-92. 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 . Symptoms of an overdose of tetrahydrozoline include drowsiness, slow breathing or absence of breathing, slow heartbeat, hypothermia and possibly even coma. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. Swenson K. His wife said he died falling down the stairs. Hemlock or Conium is a highly toxic flowering plant indigenous to Europe and South Africa. Its a different story if eye drops go down your mouth. The Houston Chronicle. Watch out for any symptoms that occur beyond your eyes including a headache, dizziness, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats. 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). "Investigator Testifies That Airman Confessed to Eskew Killing." Clinical Toxicology, 52(5), 454-469. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. 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. His wife claimed he had succumbed to a fatal fall. 2003 Oct;25(3):297-302. On November 16, the victim was hospitalized with decreased body temperature, stomach aches, swings in blood pressure, blurred vision, tremors and bleeding. 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. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Eye drops like Visine, Murine Plus,and Clarine are marketed as ways for you to get the red out of your eyes. 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. UF Health scientist lands first-ever NIH grant for a rare disorder devastating UF Health joins national effort to improve patient outcomes. Pl drop the argument as it. As the two cases demonstrated, even relatively small amounts can be toxic. Springfield News-Leader. Together we teach. 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. Just look at some recent eye dropping news. Nunnally, Derrick. Program completed entirely in Jacksonville. Cats given Tylenol die a slow and painful death as their cells . Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The Wedding Crashers main characters Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson pose with Bridesmaids Models [+] during New Line Cinema Premiere of "Wedding Crashers" at Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, New York, United States. Symptoms of poisonings. Common Symptoms of Low Grade Arsenic Toxicity. 2020 Jan 18. Clayton, you sure have tangled this one up, he said. 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. In young children, serious adverse events can occur from ingesting only a small amount (1 to 2 mL, or several drops) of tetrahydrozoline. Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Emeritus, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. 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. 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. In: Burns MM, ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:793. The UFCOM-J offers accredited graduate medical education residency and fellowship programs, in addition to non-standard fellowship programs. 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. Together we discover. Editorial team. 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. Eye drops designed to treat rednessare not intended to be consumed orally. The signs and symptoms of Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning may include: First Aid tips for Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning: The emergency medical health professional might perform the following steps towards treating the condition: First aid for Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is administered by healthcare professionals. 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 . We offer a a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs as well as M.S. The clerk responsible for the act was dismissed, and Whole Foods Market settled out of court with Trabanino for an undisclosed sum after he brought a. Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. It may be mild in some and severe in others. Snejana Farberov 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