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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.

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.

Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.