The Poison Review

ACONITE POISONING PRESENTING AS HYPOTENSION AND BRADYCARDIA Chan TYK. Hum Exp Toxicol 2009;28:795-797.

Abstract

Aconite is among the oldest known poisons, having been described in the Rig Veda –  a sacred ancient Indian text dating back to the 12th century B.C.  — as a toxin used to poison arrows.  There are many Aconitum species found throughout the world, including monkshood which grows wild in North America and Europe.  The toxicity of aconite, which has been called the “queen mother of poisons”, stems from its ability to open sodium channels and through a muscarinic effect on the vagus nerve.  This case report, from Hong Kong, presents a 58-year-old man who took an inadvertent overdose of several Chinese herbal medications each containing Aconitum species.  He developed bradycardia and hypotension which lasted for oever 24 hours and was treated with fluids, atropine, and dopamine.  He also developed the neurological and gastrointestinal manifestations that are typical features of aconite toxicity: numbness in the mouth and extremities, vomiting and diarrhea.  Aconite is a fascinating topic, but this unremarkable short case report does not contain anything new.