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toxidrome
Strychnine toxidrome
botanicals
definition
strychnine toxidrome
the following toxicity information is largely derived from poisonings, overdoses and research on isolated constituents; used with appropriate clinical judgment and cautious prescribing, botanical medicines are safe and efficacious
plants included:
» Strychnos ignatii
» Strychnos nux vomica
treatment of overdose: oral administration of chloroform, anticonvulsive therapy, potassium permanganate, and gastric lavage (Duke, p. 464)
acute poisoning symptoms include: tetanic convulsions and asphyxia; the mind remains clear until sudden death occurs
strychnine toxidrome: excitement of spinal cord and medullary centers occurs, causing dyspnea, a feeling of suffocation, cyanosis, perspiration, and tetanic convulsions (Cain, p. 561)
strychnine convulsions are characterized by general rigidity, tetany, myoclonic spasms, opisthotonos, and numerous hyperextension reflexes with hypercontractability; prostration, asphyxia, drastic changes in blood pressure, cyanosis, and finally death occur from cardiorespiratory problems (Theines and Haley, pp. 34-36)
renal implications may occur due to rhabdomyolysis (AMA, p. 163)
footnotes
Cain, H.D. 1980. Flint's Emergency Treatment and Management, 6th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
Lampe, K.F., and McAnn, M.A. 1985. AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants. Chicago: American Medical Association.
Thienes, C.H., Haley, T.J. 1975. Clinical Toxicology. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.