Atropine poisoning

Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex, tetanus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, poliomyelitis, transverse myelitis, cerebrovascular accident, psychosis, intracranial mass, epilepsy, atropine poisoning, and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. 

Differential Diagnosis With single cases, rather than clearly epidemic cases, the illness could be confused with Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, or tick paralysis. Other possible considerations may include enteroviral infections, as well as nerve agent and atropine poisoning. 

Alexander E, Morris DP, EsUck RL Atropine poisoning report of a case with recovery after ingestion of one gram. New Engl. 

Kleinwachter I. Observations concerning the effectiveness of extract of calabar against atropine poisoning. Berl khn Wschr. 1 369-377, 1864. 

It s use with anticholinergic antiparkinsonian drugs can lead symptoms similar to atropine poisoning. 

At higher concentrations, atropine causes block of all parasympathetic functions. However, atropine is a remarkably safe drug in adults. Atropine poisoning has occurred as a result of attempted suicide, but most cases are due to attempts to induce hallucinations. 

Uses antidote to atropine poisoning, antidepressant, antihistamine preps. 

At higher concentrations, atropine causes block of all parasympathetic functions. However, atropine is a remarkably safe drug in adults. Atropine poisoning has occurred as a result of attempted suicide, but most cases are due to attempts to induce hallucinations. Poisoned individuals manifest dry mouth, mydriasis, tachycardia, hot and flushed skin, agitation, and delirium for as long as a week. Body temperature is frequently elevated. These effects are memorialized in the adage, "dry as a bone, blind as a bat, red as a beet, mad as a hatter."... 

Atropine poisoning. Parasympatholytics have a wide therapeutic margin. Rarely life-threatening, poisoning with atropine is characterized by the following peripheral and centtal effects. 

When taken in very large amounts, atropine poisoning occurs this may, for example, be seen following poisoning by deadly nightshade berries. These berries can cause symptoms which patients have colourfully described as ... 

Amitai, Y, Almog, S., Singer, R., Hammer, R., Bentur, Y, Danon, Y. (1992). Atropine poisoning in children during the Persian Gulf crisis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 268(5), 630-632. 

Pharmacokinetics. Atropine is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and may also be injected by the usual routes. The occasional cases of atropine poisoning following use of eye drops are due to the solution rurming down the lacrimal ducts into the nose and being swallowed. Atropine is in part destroyed in the liver and in part excreted unchanged by the kidney (t 2 h). 

Jimenez-Mejias ME, Montano-Diaz M, Lopez Pardo F, Campos Jimenez E, Martin Cordero MC, Ayuso Gonzalez MJ, Gonzalez de la Pnente. Intoxicacion atropinica por Mandragora autumnalis. Descripcion de quince casos. [Atropine poisoning by Mandragora autumnalis. A report of 15 cases.] Med Clin (Bare) 1990 95(18) 689-92. 

Another condition that could be confused with botulism is nerve agent and/or atropine poisoning (28). Unlike botulinum toxin, which results in decreased secretions, nerve agent poisoning (see Chap. 3) causes patients to develop copious respiratory secretions and miotic pupils. As compared to the clear sensorium of botulism patients, atropine overdose causes nervous system excitation, including hallucinations and delirium, even though the mucous membranes are dry and patients have mydriasis (see Chap. 3). 

These findings suggest that lithium enhances cholinergic activity in the brain. It is conceivable that these cholinomimetic effects may contribute to antimanic actions, while lithimn toxicity resembles atropine poisoning. 

The acute poisoning that occurs with most antihistaminics does not cause severe CNS depression as would be expected based on their sedative properties, but is manifested by mydriasis, fever, flushing, CNS excitement, hallucinations, ataxia, athetosis, and convulsions. Some of these effects, which resemble those of atropine poisoning, may be due to their anticholinergic properties. Diazepam is an effective antidote to poisoning and should be used to reverse the CNS excitement and convulsions. 

List the signs, symptoms, and treatment of atropine poisoning. 

Pilocarpine occurs in the leaves of various species of pilocarpus. It is used as an antidote for atropine poisoning and in ophthalmology to produce contraction of the pupil. 

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