Frank Shull nearly died as a result, spending one month in the hospital and another month in rehab. Clonidine and topical imidazolines exposure in toddlers. 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. Learn about UF clinical research studies that are seeking volunteers. Clayton's family released a statement on the allegations against his wife. 17:24 GMT 22 Mar 2013 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. Seems they use the eye medication Visine for a little Montezuma's revenge. 2018 Sep 5. Because of their small size, even a dose as low as 1 to 2 milliliters may be toxic to children, according to the FDA website.. Many of these types of OTC products do not have child-resistant closures, so they should be stored out of the reach of children. Products containing tetrahydrozoline can interact with many prescription drugs. 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.
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. 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. 2020 Jan 17. Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Emeritus, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Together we teach. Symptoms of Imidazoline Poisoning in Dogs The amount of imidazoline your dog ingested will determine the severity of the symptoms and how quickly they manifest. Dont say wow so often. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. Putting two drops in both eyes six times a day would only equal about one milliliter of fluid. (Photo [+] by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images). A woman is accused of poisoning her husband with over-the-counter eye drops, which led to his death, according to cops. 52, No. The former Veterans Affairs nurse and South Carolina resident had pleaded guilty of putting Visine eye drops in her husbands drink. This article is for information only. 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. 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 danger is real, and parents are well advised to keep eye drops away from children. 16 September 2008. Ive reached out to Visine and Johnson & Johnson for comment on these cases. Its use in greater than recommended doses may cause hypertension, bradycardia, rebound hypotension, and possibly arrhythmias. In addition to death, ingesting tetrahydrozoline can cause "drowsiness, slow breathing or absence of breathing, slow heartbeat, hypothermia and possibly even coma." After his wife's death,. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. When any ingestion is accompanied by ETOH (ethyl alcohol), it increases the toxicity level by approx 50%. Not your mouth or other orifices. "If I had an underlying medical condition or if I had gotten a little more of the drug I could have been. Yet all is not well in revenge land. In general, be careful about using such eye drops, even if they go where they are supposed to go. Medical Toxicology Physician, Call
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. Such imaginings give us the chance to vicariously experience the joys of retribution, joys we're not likely to sample in real life, such as the following: I've heard that barmaids and cocktail waitresses have a secret for getting rid of obnoxious customers. 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 The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. COMMON BRAND NAME (S): Eye Drops, Geneye, Opti-Clear, Redness Reliever, Visine, Visine Red Eye Comfort. Poisoning with eyedrops is also the plot line of an episode of the CBS drama "CSI": There is tetrahydrozoline in the victim's drink. Dont say that people use only 10% of their hearts when you reveal only 10% of your true identity. General information: Symptoms of poisoning may even occur after several hours; therefore medical observation for at least 48 hours after the accident. The girlfriend later discovered that Carpenter had been texting his friends to boast about the eye drops prank and called the police on him. If it is established that a person is a regular drug user, then raise the number of milligrams for MLD by 33%. So if youve got children or very small actors around, make sure that you keep eye drops safe and secure. Pictured here are boxes of Visine, over-the-counter eye drops produced by Johnson & Johnson. "Chills, sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Can eating poppy seeds affect drug test results? is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. 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 . In: Burns MM, ed. Together we care for our patients and our communities. 35; pp. Stars and Stripes. There are approximately 130 cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure reported each year to the online poison control toolwebPOISONCONTROL. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tobias, Joseph. North County Gazette. Dont do what the Owen Wilson character did in the movie Wedding Crashers.
Eddy O, Howell JM. Eyedrops and nasal decongestant sprays often contain ingredients intended to reduce eye redness and nasal stuffiness. Visine is clearly labeled for external use only and should never be swallowed.. 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. 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. 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). Tetrahydrozoline is a form of a medicine called imidazoline, which is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. Clayton, you sure have tangled this one up, he said. UF Health scientist lands first-ever NIH grant for a rare disorder devastating UF Health joins national effort to improve patient outcomes. Fifty-three cases reported hospitalization due to symptoms including nausea, vomiting, lethargy, tachycardia, decreased respiration, bradycardia, hypotension, hypertension, sedation, somnolence,. 's editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In general, overdoses are common situations in the emergency departments. The UF College of Nursing continually attracts and retains the highest caliber of nursing students and faculty with a passion for science and caring. WOIO-TV [Cleveland]. 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. Editorial team. The UFCOM-J offers accredited graduate medical education residency and fellowship programs, in addition to non-standard fellowship programs. "Generally, symptoms can occur in as little as one hour, peaking at eight hours, and resolving . While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel. The student responsible has been charged with tampering with a drink with intent to cause harm. 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. The cause of death was listed as tetrahydrozoline poisoning and classified as a homicide, not suicide or an accident. Also in June 2006, Kristine Anzalone served her roommate, Joseph Gentissi Jr., an iced tea spiked with Visine. Imidazolines (like oxymetazoline and tetrahydrozoline) are commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. This would not be a good prank. Aronson JK. Also offered on campus is an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-accredited pharmacy residency program at Shands Jacksonville. 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.
The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%. Sometimes poison doesn't cause any symptoms. According to Michael Banks, reporting for the Shelby Star, Hunsucker had resisted an autopsy being done before his wifes body was cremated. Police said Lana Clayton poisoned her 64-year-old husband, Stephen, with eye drops. 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. 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. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. 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. In view of the above list, that advice should not be taken lightly. ; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may . 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. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. The girl later told police that she got the idea to use the eye drops as poison from an unrelated news story. A 19-year-old Wyoming woman accused of poisoning her stepmother with eye drops has pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault charge. 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. Such interactions may enhance the therapeutic effects of the drug or other medications being taken, resulting in undesired side effects (such as an overdose). To do their thing, such eye drops should go into your, you guessed it, eyes. . 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. Accessed June 8, 2021. All Rights Reserved. According to figures provided in an email by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were no reported deaths from tetrahydrozoline from 2016 through 2019. 16th ed. One drop can be beneficial, one swig can be deadly: tetrahydrozoline intoxication. The sample showed a high amount of chemical from the eye drops. . Tetrahydrozoline or tetryzoline is an alpha agonist (substances that help blood vessel constriction) found in certain eye drops and nasal solutions. This article is for information only. 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. Students rotate through the various clinical settings on the campus, and primary care centers and specialty care centers located throughout Jacksonville. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. . No, she didnt just have bad aim. When used in high amounts or when ingested, tetrahydrozoline can also cause sleepiness, low blood pressure, and a dangerously slow heart rate. Tetrahydrozoline poisoning occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally swallows this product. He was found dead in the homeon July 21. A lawyer for Mr. Hunsucker, David Teddy, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Friday. A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. The symptoms include, but are. This is a free and confidential service. Your eyes may be bigger than your stomach, but these body parts are just not the same. And do not put eye drops in anyones drink, even just a few drops to prank someone. Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 35, on Thursday was charged with first-degree murder in the September 2018 death of his . 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. She had suffered from PTSD attributed to domestic abuse, he said. Visine is clearly labeled for external use only and should never be swallowed., This is a BETA experience. It then grabs onto the surface of your cat's red blood cells in the spots normally used to carry oxygen to the tissues. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Clinical Toxicology, 52(5), 454-469. Jennings s is being held on $25,000 bond and will be sentenced at a later date. Tetrahydrozoline causes constriction of blood vessels when it is applied directly on the eye; this reduces eye redness. How Visine eye drops in the mouth can kill, here are two cases. You could kill the person. Accessed June 8, 2021. WRIC-TV [Richmond]. On Thursday, Lana Sue Clayton was sentenced to 25-years in prison for voluntary manslaughter. 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. Eye drops designed to treat rednessare not intended to be consumed orally. 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. Jennings reportedly admitted to the crime when she was interviewed by deputies, telling them she wanted her stepmother 'gone.'. Tetrahydrozoline is a chemical thats in many of these drops. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Also, dont believe the full-of-poop claims that such eyes drops can be a way of giving someone explosive diarrhea. Seek medical help right away. In general, dont use The Wedding Crashers as a model for your behavior. "Grocer Settles Suit Out of Court." Together we create unstoppable momentum. It is a member of the imidazole family that can serve as decongestants and vasoconstrictors. J Emerg Med. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. The active component in Visine eye drops is tetrahydrozoline. In January 2015 Unger pleaded guilty to six counts of aggravated assault of a victim less than six years old and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Snejana Farberov
It would be helpful if the following information is readily available: Type, dosage and time of administration of medication, And, the overall health status of the individual. 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. Symptoms of an overdose of tetrahydrozoline include drowsiness, slow breathing or absence of breathing, slow heartbeat, hypothermia and possibly even coma. 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. Symptoms of an overdose of tetrahydrozoline include drowsiness, slow breathing or absence of breathing, slow heartbeat, hypothermia and possibly even coma. The Houston Chronicle. Jennings was arrested last November after her stepmother saw a Web search history related to Visine poisonings on a computer at the house and became suspicious, The Casper Star Tribune reported. Together we discover. In: Burns MM, ed. They will give you further instructions. I felt awful, she told Inside Edition. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. A.D.A.M. Sinoatrial node arrest following tetrahydrozoline ingestion. Eye drops go in your eyes. A Franklin woman allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a family friend she was caring for, fatally poisoned her with eyedrops, and staged the scene to . 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. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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. 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. 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. 2020 Jan 18. 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.. The smaller the body size, the less thats needed to cause major problems and even be life threatening. Ginger Watson knows what it is like to be poisoned by eye drops. A majority of the cases are often not fatal, when appropriate treatment is given. It's easy to see that ingesting it is in fact poisoning. There is no antidote for tetryzoline or other similar imidazoline analogue poisoning, but the symptoms can be alleviated and with treatment, death is rare . "Woman Charged with Assault by Visine Eye Drops." A criminal complaint accuses Jessy R. Kurczewski, 36, of using eye drops to poison her friend Lynn Hernan at her Pewaukee, Wisconsin home. The stepmother was hospitalized twice with various ailments. Ms. Clayton had originally been charged with murder after her arrest in August 2018, the arrest warrant said. 1-800-222-1222
1 July 2014. 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. 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. If you or a loved one drank eyedrops or nasal decongestant sprays by accident or on purpose, do not wait for symptoms to occur. It reduces redness in the eye caused by minor eye irritations. 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. 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. "Airman Sentenced to Life in Prison." On November 16, the victim was hospitalized with decreased body temperature, stomach aches, swings in blood pressure, blurred vision, tremors and bleeding. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. Editorial team. Immediately use thewebPOISONCONTROLonline tool or call 1-800-222-1222. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. Young children who consume small amounts of tetrahydrozoline (as little as one-half of one teaspoon) can develop sleepiness and difficulty breathing.