STRYCHNINE USE SIGNS

The drug strychnine is considered as raging venom. It can be deadly if it is inhaled or absorbed through the skin or swallowed.

The inhibitory nerve impulses are obstructed by strychnine and it can lead to the sensitization to the excitatory impulses in a person. After 15 to 30 minutes if ingestion, the symptoms of strychnine poisoning will start.

An initial aggressive convulsion may take place but usually the symptoms start off with uneasiness, exaggerated reflexes, stiffness in the face and leg muscles, unexpected movements, restlessness and heightened observation (vision, hearing and so on).

Slight motivation can start off convulsions that are violent in nature. The movements of a person may irregular initially which will follow hyperextension where the person’s body will be curved convexly (resting on head and heels) with the legs widened and arms loosened over the chest or inflexibly extended. The fists will be tightened, jaw pressed together, the face will have a smile and eyes will bulge out. Then the breathing of the person will stop and he or she will turn blue all of a sudden.

Between the convulsions, the muscles will loosen up, a person will have cold sweat and there will be contraction in the user’s pupils. Hypersensitivity will come back with additional convulsions after fifteen minutes. The patient may have to undergo one to ten attacks before he gets better or die from suffocation or respiratory arrest. If a person takes in about 100-200 mg then it can be dangerous. On the other hand as less as 15 mg in children and 30 mg in adults has proved to be dangerous.