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. The products contain the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, or oxymetazoline. The student responsible has been charged with tampering with a drink with intent to cause harm. Stephen Clayton, a millionaire businessman,lived with his wife in a South Carolina mansion that is a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation. 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. (Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic). The girl later told police that she got the idea to use the eye drops as poison from an unrelated news story. 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. This is a free and confidential service. InTech. Ive reached out to Visine and Johnson & Johnson for comment on these cases. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 29(1), 80-92. . Then his wife admitted to poisoning his water with eye drops. Visine may cause serious side effects. Yet if Visine doesn't cause diarrhea, it has done things far more terrible. With such severe and potentially deadly risks, it is just not worth the squeeze. WPMT-TV [York, PA]. Clayton, you sure have tangled this one up, he said. Students rotate through the various clinical settings on the campus, and primary care centers and specialty care centers located throughout Jacksonville. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. 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. If needed, administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It is important for physicians to be familiar with the adverse effects of these ingestions and to be aware of the potential therapies for management. The chemical is found in Visine, Murine Plus, Altazine, Clarine and some other over-the-counter eye drops, according to Drugs.com. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. Others in the class who saw the act removed the adulterated beverage before the intended victim could drink it. A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. When any ingestion is accompanied by ETOH (ethyl alcohol), it increases the toxicity level by approx 50%. 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. If you or a loved one drank eyedrops or nasal decongestant sprays by accident or on purpose, do not wait for symptoms to occur. 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. However, make sure that the redness is not from something more serious like a bad allergic reaction, an infection, glaucoma, or a harpoon. But most importantly dont put Visine eye drops in someones drink. 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). The active ingredient in eye drops such as Visine is tetrahydrozoline HCI. York County Sheriff's Office, via Associated Press. The UF College of Nursing continually attracts and retains the highest caliber of nursing students and faculty with a passion for science and caring. The cause of death was listed as tetrahydrozoline poisoning and classified as a homicide, not suicide or an accident. Butin real life, the prank is no laughing matter. This is not an all-inclusive list. Patient-Centered Medicine and Prevention of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. 52, No. This is a free and confidential service. Yin S. Over-the-counter cough and cold preparations: Approach to pediatric poisoning. Together we care for our patients and our communities. 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. On Thursday, the woman, Lana Sue Clayton, 53, a former Veterans Affairs nurse, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing her husband, Stephen D. Clayton, 64, at their home in Clover, S.C., the documents show. Help is available online with web POISON CONTROL or by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Associated Press. Springfield News-Leader. Less than a mother later, the stepmother required medical help for similar symptoms. Teenagers and adults who drink larger amounts may also experience heart rhythm abnormalities and breathing problems that can be life-threatening. 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. Officials told K2Radio the girl varied her dosage of the eye drops poured into her stepmothers beverages from as little as one-sixth of a bottle to as much as a quarter of a bottle. This article is for information only. 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. 10 October 2003 (Orange County Edition; p. B3). Visine is clearly labeled for external use only and should never be swallowed.. Thats why you dont typically eat your contact lens. 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. Most cases of tetrahydrozoline exposure occur in adults, but more than one-fourth of all exposures occur in toddlers (1-2 years of age). Common Symptoms of Low Grade Arsenic Toxicity. Stars and Stripes. 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. As the two cases demonstrated, even relatively small amounts can be toxic. The Houston Chronicle. Ms. (Photo [+] by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images). Dont crash weddings to hook up with strangers. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. Acetaminophen. (2013). I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. Knowles H. Officials said he died in a fall. Seek medical help right away. 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. By now, most people know that Tylenol (acetaminophen) will KILL cats. J Emerg Med. The defendant initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but had a change of heart this week. The College of Public Health & Health Professions (PHHP) is dedicated to providing excellent educational programs that prepare graduates to address the multifaceted health needs of populations, communities and individuals. Visit MyUFHealth to get an estimate for your cost for the most common medical procedures. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. Pl drop the argument as it. Some individuals may have long-lasting complications if multiple organs are damaged by the drug. The UF College of Pharmacy-Jacksonville offers a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) 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. The stepmother was hospitalized twice with various ailments. Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning may be also referred to variously as the following: Note: The drug can interact with other prescribed or non-prescribed medications in the body. A few drops of Visine brand eye drops taken internally will induce uncontrollable diarrhea. We report a case of unintentional tetrahydrozoline ingestion with cardiovascular . Visine side effects. Together we discover. If swallowed,the medication can cause illness and even death. Clinical rotations in all the major disciplines are provided for UFCOM undergraduate medical students and elective rotations to students from other accredited schools. In general, be careful about using such eye drops, even if they go where they are supposed to go. Eye drops like Visine, Murine Plus,and Clarine are marketed as ways for you to get the red out of your eyes. (2016). That's when detectives told Kurczewski about the tetrahydrozoline the . Learn about UF clinical research studies that are seeking volunteers. Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. Included in the symptoms are vomiting, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. 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. Fifty-three cases reported hospitalization due to symptoms including nausea, vomiting, lethargy, tachycardia, decreased respiration, bradycardia, hypotension, hypertension, sedation, somnolence,. 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. Accessed June 8, 2021. Answered Apr 20, 2022. Anyone can read what you share. Subsequently, clonidine has been primarily utilized for its potent antihypertensive effect, but is used on- and off-label for a wide variety of indications. It matters not if actual harm results from the attempt the act itself is enough to land one in the hoosegow. According to police, Unger confessed to poisoning her 3-year-old son by putting Visine in his water bottle and juice bottle (the boy was hospitalized several times but survived) and also causing her 1-year-old son to fall ill when he accidentally consumed the poisoned drinks she had made for his brother. In: Aronson JK, ed. 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. These courses share the latest in medical knowledge, teach new patient-relationship skills and help providers deal with relevant current issues. 2018 Sep 5. It does NOT need to be an emergency. A typical bottle of eye drops contains anywhere from 15 to 30 milliliters of solution. 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. Exposure is common in young children, who unintentionally ingest it, but cases have been rising in the adult population. Tetryzoline. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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.. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. While poisoning symptoms are uncommon after applying the drops to the eyes, these agents can produce significant poisoning if taken orally. Together we teach. There it can get the drop on you and slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Scared of Eye Drops? Tetryzoline. It can also lead to a drop in body temperature, a coma, and, of course, death. Even a small ingestion can cause clinical signs of vomiting, lethargy/depression or . Sometimes poison doesn't cause any symptoms. Swallowing this substance can result in a number of nasty effects, including: Lowering body temperature to dangerous levels When a bottle of product containing imidazolines is chewed, it can result in severe poisoning in pets - even death, when untreated. J Emerg Med. More than 100 of these products contain an ingredient, tetrahydrozoline, that is similar to a commonly used blood pressure-lowering medication called clonidine. Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride | C13H17ClN2 | CID 10648 - structure, chemical names, physical and chemical properties, classification, patents, literature, biological . Products containing tetrahydrozoline can interact with many prescription drugs. A.D.A.M. 7 September 1997 (p. A32). Medical literature reports other cases of small children brought to the brink of crisis by ingestion of tiny amounts of over-the-counter eye drops. A 19-year-old Wyoming woman accused of poisoning her stepmother with eye drops has pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault charge. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. Freeman, Mark. "Visine Prank Leads to Day in Court." Pictured here are boxes of Visine, over-the-counter eye drops produced by Johnson & Johnson. DrugFacilitated Sexual Assault Using Tetrahydrozoline. Because these medications are often sold without child-resistant packaging, it is very important to keep these products far away from the reach of young children. 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,. A.D.A.M. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 16:47 (UTC). Dont say wow so often. The symptoms include, but are. 2004 Oct;27(3):313-4. The. Significance of the imidazoline receptors in toxicology.
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. A North Carolina paramedic allegedly murdered his wife by poisoning her with Visine. The "Visine slipped into the drink" pay back carries additional appeal because it seems to offer an effective yet harmless form of retaliation that could be easily and furtively administered even by the wimpiest of revenge seekers. In: Burns MM, ed. 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.. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in 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. Are one or two dangerous? Constricting blood vessels in your eyes is how they get the red out., The FDA considers the risk for these products to be low as they are labeled for external use only and are clearly marked keep out of reach of children.. 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 . The active component in Visine eye drops is tetrahydrozoline. In 2001, a 22-year-old college student from Wisconsin was jailed for 90 days for repeatedly pouring eye drops into her roommates water after seeing the prank in the comedy Wedding Crashers. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. Tetrahydrozoline is sold under the following brand names: Note: This list may not be all inclusive. Generic Name Tetryzoline DrugBank Accession Number DB06764 Background. Dont say wow so often. In February 2013, a Pennsylvania court sentenced 33-year-old Vickie Jo Mills to two to four years in prison for putting eyedrops into her boyfriend's drinking water 10 to 12 times, causing him to suffer from nausea, vomiting, blood pressure problems and breathing trouble before blood tests revealed the presence of tetrahydrozoline in his system. The drug may be sold under brand names Eyesine, Geneye, Murine Tears Plus, Optigene 3, Tyzine, Visine Original and Advanced Relief among others, Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is the accidental or intentional intake of medication containing tetrahydrozoline, The condition is diagnosed based upon the clinical history, combination of signs and symptoms, and additional tests (that may include, in some cases, radiological studies and laboratory tests), Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is caused by the intake of large amounts of tetrahydrozoline containing medicated solutions, This intake could be accidental, or in some cases intentional, to bring self-harm, Breathing difficulties; absence of breathing, Vision abnormalities including blurred vision; dilated pupils, Bluish discoloration of lips and beneath fingernails, If the individual with Tetrahydrozoline Poisoning is in a coma, or is experiencing life-threatening symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency help number) immediately, Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (or your local poison control center) for further instructions, Provide them with information such as dosage, type of drug taken, strength and time of ingestion of medication, age, weight and general health status of affected individual, Confirm that the airways are protected; also, ensure breathing and the presence of pulse, Unless instructed by a healthcare professional, DO NOT induce vomiting in the affected individual, Take individual to emergency room (ER) for further treatment, Always try to take the medication strip/bottle/container to the ER, Medically manage symptoms; provide breathing support, if necessary, Administer activated charcoal to avoid absorbance of drug in the body, Administer laxatives for elimination of drug from the body, Administer fluids by an intravenous drip line, The individual who overdosed, or someone near, should call 911 for emergency assistance (or the local emergency number), They should also call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 (or the local poison control center) and follow instructions, The prognosis of Tetrahydrozoline Overdose is dependent on the amount of drug consumed, time between ingestion and treatment, severity of the symptoms, as well as general health status of the patient, If the individual can recover from the symptoms within a period of 24 hours, with adequate medication and support, the outcome is generally good, In case of severe symptoms including abnormal heart-rates, seizures, and coma, it may considerably worsen the outcome. Oh, and even if the persons eyes are red, dont give him or her more eye drops. Intentionally or accidentally drinking eye drops can lead to toxic blood levels. Get ophthalmologist-reviewed tips and information about eye health and preserving your vision. Seems they use the eye medication Visine for a little Montezuma's revenge. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. The active ingredient in Visine eye drops is Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%. 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).