The best poison. Poisons in our homes. Liquid metal - mercury
What pills can be poisoned? Any medications if used improperly can lead to severe poisoning and intoxication. In severe cases, instant death may occur. This article discusses an overdose of fatal pills, symptoms of poisoning with various drugs, methods of providing first aid, and treatment components in a hospital.
Reasons for the development of drug poisoning
- Self-medication, taking medications that are not agreed with the attending physician. Sometimes people drink drugs on the advice of friends, neighbors, relatives.
- Taking large doses of the drug in critical or emergency situations. For example, with an increase in body temperature, people, trying to quickly bring it down, drink large doses of drugs, combine them with each other. Such uncontrolled medication often leads to fatal poisoning.
- The person’s use of drugs that are contraindicated in age or health. For example, the drug aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is deadly for children, it causes Reye's syndrome in them and leads to rapid death from internal bleeding.
- Fatal overdose of pills can develop in children who ate tablets left by adults. Kids all love to taste, they are all interested. All medicines that are at home should be kept out of the reach of children.
- An overdose of drugs for the purpose of suicide (suicide). Most often, people use sleeping pills and tranquilizers for this purpose. From them comes a relatively easy death from an overdose.
- Poisoning with drugs as a result of taking them along with alcoholic beverages.
- A dangerous combination of drugs among themselves. In the instructions for the drugs, you should carefully read the list of drugs with which they cannot be combined.
- Intentional killing. Medications can specially poison a person. Some high-dose drugs are potent poisons for humans.
Please note that for each person, the lethal dosage of any drug is purely individual. It depends on the weight and age of the person, the presence of some kind of disease.
Features of the clinical picture in case of drug overdose
Every person can be poisoned with pills to death. A fatal outcome is possible with a certain dose of any drug. Below we look at the symptoms of poisoning with the most common medications.
Hypnotics, sedatives
Potent sedative and hypnotic drugs include:
- barbot;
- phenobarbital;
- bromital;
- medal;
- teraligen;
- barbital.
These substances, getting into the digestive system, are rapidly absorbed and act. They can cause death in 15-30 minutes. The following are symptoms that develop with an overdose of sleeping pills.
- Increased drowsiness, weakness and lethargy. At the initial stage of poisoning with a person, you can still establish contact, talk, ask something from him. Then deep sleep develops, in severe cases - a coma. As a rule, with poisoning with these drugs, people die in a dream.
- A decrease in all reflexes develops as a result of inhibition of the central nervous system.
- Hyperthermia. For poisoning with sleeping pills, a rise in body temperature to 40 degrees is characteristic.
- Perhaps the development of vomiting in a dream. Due to the decrease in the severity of the swallowing and vomiting reflex, aspiration of vomit into the airways can occur and respiratory arrest may develop.
- Slow breathing. A person begins to breathe slowly and superficially, with a frequency of less than 10 breaths per minute. This change is due to inhibition of the respiratory center in the brain. With poisoning by sleeping pills, it is possible to die precisely from respiratory arrest.
- Bradycardia (slowing heart rate) and hypotension (lowering blood pressure).
- Perhaps the development of seizures and hallucinations.
Tranquilizers
Severe overdose of tranquilizers often leads to death. These drugs act on the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as on breathing and heart function. Tranquilizers are taken strictly by prescription, and even a slight deviation from the dosage prescribed by the doctor can cause poisoning. The following is a list of drugs in this group:
- elenium;
- sweatshirt;
- seduxen;
- diazepam;
- oxazepam;
- tazepam;
- eunoktin;
- librium;
- rademorm.
The clinical picture of poisoning with tranquilizers is the same as with poisoning with sleeping pills.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common drugs. These drugs include:
- paracetamol (efferalgan, panadol);
- acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin);
- analgin;
- ibuprofen (nurofen);
- ketorolac (ketans, ketolong);
- nimesulide (nimesil);
- indomethacin.
Drugs in this group have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Some lower body temperature (paracetamol, ibuprofen). Aspirin is used to thin the blood.
Non-death poisoning with NSAIDs most often develops as a result of an overdose in order to accelerate their action. For example, feeling severe pain, a person takes a larger amount of medicine.
Please note that when children use acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), rapid death can develop. Children do not have an enzyme to process this drug. They develop Reye's syndrome. Therefore, this drug is strictly prohibited for children.
Symptoms of poisoning with NSAIDs resemble intestinal poisoning. The patient has a stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea appear, general weakness, dizziness. It is also possible to lower body temperature, the development of hand tremors, the appearance of anxiety and anxiety. By themselves, the drugs in this group rarely lead to death. Dangerous are the complications that can be triggered by the use of these drugs in large dosages, namely:
- gastrointestinal bleeding. All NSAIDs irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. If you drink a lot of these drugs, damage to the integrity of the vascular wall in the submucosal ball of these organs may develop. Gastrointestinal bleeding is manifested by dark vomiting, black stool (bleached), pallor and blueness of the skin, severe weakness, drowsiness, increased heart rate, and decreased blood pressure. A person may die due to heavy blood loss;
- acute pancreatitis is a non-infectious inflammation of the pancreas, in which necrotic death of its tissues develops. This pathology can be caused by an overdose of NSAIDs. The patient develops severe girdle pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, flatulence and diarrhea. Small purple hemorrhagic spots may appear on the skin of the abdomen. Body temperature rises to 39 degrees. This disease without surgery leads to death;
- acute liver failure can develop as a result of taking a large number of drugs that the liver is not able to neutralize. The patient turns yellow skin, mucous membranes and sclera of the eyes, there is pain in the right hypochondrium. Consciousness may be impaired. Death may occur due to liver failure;
- renal failure, in which the kidneys are not able to cope with their function and purify the blood. This pathology can occur with toxic damage to nephrons (structural units of the kidneys) by anti-inflammatory drugs.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are drugs that are widely used in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. They are prescribed by a doctor, who stipulates with the patient the rules and the administration and dosing.
The table below shows the features of the clinical picture in case of an overdose of various antibacterial agents.
| The name of the group of antibacterial drugs and drugs | Symptoms and signs |
| Penicillins, Cephalosporins (amoxil, ceftriaxone, cefodox) |
|
| Tetracycline |
|
| Chloramphenicol |
When using this drug in large doses, the development of acute cardiovascular failure is possible. |
| Fluoroquinolones |
|
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are used for allergic pathologies. They can be prescribed for allergic dermatitis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, etc. These drugs block the production of histamine, the main mediator that triggers allergic reactions. Some drugs also have a mild hypnotic effect. When treating them, a person is forbidden to drive a car.
The drugs in this group include:
- loratadine;
- suprastin;
- diphenhydramine;
- diazolin;
- pipolfen.
Symptoms of poisoning with antihistamines appear in 15-30 minutes. With a lethal dose, a person can die in an hour.
With an overdose of antihistamines, the nervous system is primarily affected. Symptoms of poisoning with these drugs include:
- feeling of dryness in the mouth and eyes, thirst;
- increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees;
- nausea followed by vomiting;
- first, general excitation develops, which changes dramatically inhibition;
- hand shake;
- seizures of the type of epilepsy;
- tachycardia, possibly a violation of the heart rhythm;
- a change in blood pressure, at first it rises sharply, and then also quickly drops to critical numbers;
- lack of coordination, staggering;
- increased drowsiness;
- gradual falling into a deep coma.
Drugs for lowering blood pressure
Cardiac poisoning is very common among the population. With a heart attack or a sharp rise in blood pressure, a person can drink many different drugs, fearing for his life.
Also, an overdose of such medications can develop in older people who may forget that they took the drug and drink it again.
Please note that when taking beta-blockers (e.g., anaprilin) \u200b\u200bby people who have bronchial asthma, rapid death can develop.
Names of popular antihypertensive drugs:
- captopril;
- lozap;
- enalapril;
- amiodarone;
- anaprilin;
- magnesium sulfate;
- metoprolol;
- nebivolol;
- nifedipine.
In case of poisoning with antihypertensive drugs, the patient's blood pressure drops sharply, nausea and vomiting may develop, and consciousness is impaired. This condition is deadly, can lead to respiratory arrest and palpitations.
What to do in case of drug overdose
At the slightest suspicion of an overdose of any drug, you need to urgently call an ambulance. By phone, inform the dispatcher about what happened, list the symptoms of the patient and accurately indicate your location.
Remember that trying to cure a person of a drug overdose yourself is very dangerous. He may die in your arms, and you cannot help him in any way. In order not to endanger his life, immediately seek medical help.
What to do while waiting for doctors? The arrival time of the NSR team depends on many factors (for example, traffic congestion, the availability of free doctors at the time of the call). While waiting for the ambulance team, you need to begin to provide the poisoned first medical aid at home. It is from her that the prognosis for the life of the patient may depend. Below are its main components.
In order to cleanse the stomach of the rest of the drunk drugs, you need to drink a gulp of a liter of water and provoke vomiting. For best results, repeat this wash several times.
This procedure is not performed when:
- impaired consciousness of the patient;
- black or bloody vomiting.
It is not necessary to add a solution of potassium permanganate or any other components to the solution for gastric lavage. You cannot know what kind of chemical reaction they will enter with drugs that poisoned a person.
Cleansing enema
Enema is done on the basis of ordinary boiled water. The temperature of the intestinal lavage fluid should be neutral (room temperature).
Sorbents
These drugs will help to bind and remove drugs that remain in the digestive tract.
Sorbents that take in liquid form (for example, smecta or atoxyl) act faster. But if you don’t have such at home, give the patient any other sorbent, even activated carbon will do.
Before giving a person a drink of the drug, read the dosing rules that are described in the instructions for him.
Drink
The liquid will reduce the concentration of the drug in the blood and accelerate its excretion by the kidneys, reduce dehydration. You can drink mineral water or plain water, tea with sugar.
Loss of consciousness
In case of loss of consciousness to patients, you need to monitor him before the arrival of doctors so that he does not choke on vomit or his tongue. Turn his head to the side, in this position the risk of aspiration is minimal.
To improve the flow of blood to the head and heart, lift his legs and fix them in this position.
Before the arrival of doctors, check for his pulse and breathing. If they stop, start an indirect indoor cardiac massage.
What to do with the development of seizures
The only thing you can do is to hold a person’s head so that he doesn’t beat her on the floor.
Remember that during a seizure, a person should not stick anything in his mouth, especially his fingers.
Medical treatment
Arriving at the call, ambulance doctors will conduct a quick examination and assess the condition of the poisoned person. Show them the drug that he took, and as accurately as possible name the number of pills drunk. You should also describe the amount of assistance that you yourself have managed to provide to the victim.
Doctors will try to stabilize the condition of the victim and take him to the nearest hospital. In case of drug poisoning, treatment is carried out in the toxicological department. Critically ill patients are hospitalized in the intensive care unit (intensive care unit).
Treatment may consist of hemodialysis, administration of antidotes, droppers, drugs to support breathing and heart function. What will happen to the person and what result is expected from treatment, can only be said by the doctor after examining the patient and an objective assessment of his condition.
Drug poisoning can be fatal. Treatment of this condition is carried out in a hospital setting. The prognosis depends on the amount of the drug taken, the active substance, the timeliness of seeking medical help. It is impossible to independently treat a drug overdose.
“Everything is poison, and nothing is poisonous,
only one dose makes the poison invisible "
Paracelsus
Dangerous First Aid Kit
Of course, it is no secret to anyone that all drugs are to one degree or another harmful to the human body. Opening the instruction leaflet before buying a drug that has not yet been tested, many curiously study such paragraphs as: ADVERSE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONSor SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.And, having found frightening items (upset stomach, intestinal cramps, nausea, dizziness, skin rash, etc.), they put off a “dangerous” drug, which, incidentally, was prescribed by a qualified doctor. Further, out of habit, or on the advice of a more experienced older generation, the choice falls on the old "time-tested" traditional medicines that our mothers and fathers drank, and maybe grandparents. In pharmacies, these drugs are sold without instructions and in large quantities, which means they have “probably almost no side effects”. Is it logical? It is guided by this logic that people quite often suffer from the so-called drug-related illness, sometimes leading to death.
Here, of course, it is worth making a reservation - about an imperfect healthcare system, an unorganized social insurance system, a low standard of living of the population, etc. etc. Yes, all these factors, one way or another, quench the patient to buy SOMETHING, which, in his opinion, will be better, safer and certainly cheaper than what the attending physician has prescribed.
Dangerous drugs, the sale of which should be limited significantly more than will be listed in the article. But here we will try to determine the most insidious and popular "poisons" from a home dangerous first-aid kit.
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It is a leader in sales in many CIS countries. Often dispensed in pharmacies without a prescription and without instructions, which, incidentally, indicates side effects: leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, allergic reactions and more. Analgin is quite toxic. Today it is banned for sale even in third world countries, not to mention European countries. In Sweden, for example, Analgin was banned back in 1974.
Two cases were recalled:
My stepfather told me about the first. Back in the 80s, a school teacher in one of the schools in the Izyumsky district of the Kharkov region took 4 tablets of analgin from toothache. The result is a fatal outcome.
The second case was told to me by a very good elderly woman from Yevpatoriya. After examining her bedridden sick mother (at that time she was over 90 years old!), The doctor advised me to take 2 tablets of Analgin for colds 4 times a day, and in the prescription wrote: 1 tablet 2 times a day. After a tough conversation with addiction, the doctor admitted that he wanted to “help” and end the suffering of an elderly woman, for which he was immediately down the stairs of my friend.
And if you scroll through the news archives for “Death from Analgin,” you can see the following: “The nurse was sentenced to a year of imprisonment for the death of a patient from analgin”, “10-month-old child died from an overdose of analgin”, “Death of a ten-year-old girl after a dipyrone " and so on. This is a summary of the past few years. And how many similar cases have been since the moment Analgin began to be used in medical practice, we can only guess.
Also, Analgin (aka Metamizole sodium) is included in many combined painkillers: Baralgetas, Tempalgin, Spazgan, Renalgan, etc.
Corvalol (Barboval, Corvaldin or Valocordin)
Our "natural" "safe" drops for the heart, very beloved by our people. In addition to bromisovaleric acid ester and other natural oils, it contains Phenobarbital,which is first: does not have any therapeutic effect for the heart; secondly: it inhibits central nervous activity, it can be said to dull consciousness and mask the symptoms of diseases of the cardiovascular system; and thirdly: addictive, which sometimes leads to an increase in dosage. The use of phenobarbital in many countries is prohibited. Draw your own conclusions.
or hay leaf
"Penny" laxative. Natural - means "safe", so you can be treated with it constantly and, if it no longer helps, take a few tablets. As it is not sad for some, this is a completely logical logical chain.
In practice, Senadexin, with prolonged and regular use (more than a year), can lead to dehydration, impaired water-electrolyte balance and intestinal diseases. It is especially dangerous to combine Senadexin with diuretics (with Furosemide, Lasix, Arifon or Indapamide.)
Phenigidine (Nifedipine)
Belongs to the group of calcium channel blockers. It is used to lower blood pressure, prevent angina pectoris. What is the danger of nifedipine? Let's figure it out in order.
Today, pharmacology approaches the issue of lowering blood pressure very carefully. Modern antihypertensive drugs are usually taken once, at most twice a day, the pressure is reduced gradually, sometimes the effect can be observed only a week after the start of therapy. If the treatment regimen is selected correctly, these drugs are drunk regularly, without interruption. Phenigidine (Nifedipine), unlike modern drugs, decreases blood pressure quite sharply and acts for a short time. What follows from this? With a sharp decrease in blood pressure, the body turns on the compensatory mechanism, that is, it tries to slightly increase the pressure. At this moment, Nifedipine ceases to function (the duration of Nifedipine is only 3-4 hours) and blood pressure rises to a critical level, higher than it was before taking the drug, as a result, hypertensive crisis may develop. This phenomenon is called rebound syndrome. In Western countries, Nifedipine has a rather limited use and is used only in the form of slowly soluble forms: Osmo Adalat (Germany), Nicardia retard (India). That is, after taking the slowly soluble form of nifedipine, blood pressure will not drop sharply, respectively, ricochet syndrome can be avoided.
5 and 6. Raunatin and Adelfan
Another group of drugs for pressure. Adelfan has long been not used in world medical practice, because in our pharmacies it is a dime a dozen. What is the catch? After all, the base is again "natural" - the alkaloids of the Rauwolfia plant.
It turns out with prolonged treatment of high blood pressure with Rauwolfia drugs, renal blood flow worsens, hence renal failure, hence fluid retention in the body, hence the subsequent increase in pressure. Here is such a paradoxical vicious circle, the use of Raunatin or Adelfan at high pressure, leads, over time, to an increase in pressure, in addition, the work of the kidneys worsens.
Echinacea tincture
Many people know how good, most importantly natural, and therefore “safe” immunostimulant. Not many people know that long-term use of Echinacea contributes to disruption of the nervous system, as well as, most interestingly, to the "getting used" of the immune system. That is, while we regularly take Echinacea, the effect is, as it were, the body's resistance is good. But if we cancel Echinacea, both colds and flu will fall with double force
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Especially dangerous in infancy. Some pediatricians still like to prescribe Diazolin for babies with colds and SARS (obviously an old school). Diazolin, having a hypnotic effect, also inhibits central nervous activity, there is inhibition, drowsiness. In general, the normal physiological development of the child’s body is disrupted.
Chloramphenicol
For some reason, a stereotype about the miraculous power of this drug in the treatment of various intestinal infections has still taken root. Although if you look, then Levomycetin has a rather narrow scope. And if you already begin to treat an upset stomach, it is better with sorbents and Nifuroxazide. The most important thing is that taking Levomycetin can lead to severe violations of bone marrow function and even to leukemia.
Eufilin
Eufilin (aka Aminophilin, Theotard) closes the top ten dangerous drugs, but by no means the last drug, the use of which can have serious consequences. What is the danger of using Eufilin? Indeed, until recently, it was universally used to treat bronchial asthma and bronchial obstruction, and some patients and doctors still use it. The answer to this question can be found in the official instructions, where it says APPLY WITH CAUTION IN THE ACUTE PHASE OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION OR angina pectoris.
Angina pectoris (or angina pectoris) - a sudden feeling of pain behind the sternum, the pain usually spreads to the left arm, jaw and neck. The reason for the development of angina pectoris is due to "oxygen starvation" of the heart muscle, that is, a mismatch between the need of the heart and its work.A more detailed look at the symptoms of angina pectoris. In addition to acute pain, angina can also be accompanied an attack of shortness of breath.Thus, the body is trying to make up for the oxygen deficiency of the heart muscle.
Now consider an example. The patient began to develop angina pectoris ( oxygen starvation of the heart)accompanied by severe shortness of breath. Further, due to a misunderstanding, the administration of Eufilin takes place, proceeding from the logic that Eufilin expands the bronchi, thereby helping the body cope with oxygen starvation and relieve shortness of breath. BUT again, according to the official instructions, Eufilin, in addition to bronchodilator action, also stimulates cardiac activity, increases the frequency and strength of heart contractions and thereby INCREASES THE NEED OF THE HEART MUSCLE IN OXYGEN.Thus, with improper use of Eufilin, oxygen starvation of the heart increases. This therapy, ultimately, will only complicate the general condition of the patient, and can lead to more serious consequences.
In the article “Dangerous first-aid kit” we tried to shed light only on the most popular, ordinary drugs that are fraught with real danger. In fact, the list of dangerous agents is much larger. Self-medication and the irrational use of drugs pose even greater danger.
1. Botulinum toxin
Many poisons can be fatal in small doses, because it is quite difficult to identify the most dangerous. However, many experts agree that the botulinum toxin that is used in Botox injections to smooth wrinkles is the strongest.
Botulism is a serious disease that causes paralysis caused by botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This poison causes damage to the nervous system, respiratory arrest and death in terrible agony.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, double vision, weak facial muscles, speech defects, difficulty swallowing, and others. The bacterium can enter the body with food (usually poorly preserved foods) and through open wounds.
2. Poison ricin
Ricin is a natural poison derived from castor beans from castor plants. A few grains are enough to kill an adult. Ricin kills cells in the human body, preventing the production of the proteins it needs, which results in organ failure. A person may be poisoned by ricin through inhalation or after ingestion.
When inhaled, symptoms of poisoning usually appear 8 hours after exposure, and include breathing difficulties, fever, cough, nausea, sweating, and chest tightness.
When swallowed, symptoms appear after less than 6 hours and include nausea and diarrhea (possibly with blood), low blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures. Death can occur in 36-72 hours.
3. Gas sarin
Zarin is one of the most dangerous and deadly nerve gases, which is hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide. Sarin was originally produced as a pesticide, but soon this odorless transparent gas became a powerful chemical weapon.
A person may be poisoned by sarin when inhaled or exposed to gas on eyes and skin. At first, symptoms such as a runny nose and tightness in the chest may appear, breathing is difficult, and nausea occurs.
Then the person loses control over all the functions of his body and falls into a coma, convulsions and cramps occur until suffocation occurs.
4. Tetrodotoxin
This deadly poison is found in the organs of the fish of the genus pufferfish, from which the famous Japanese delicacy "puffer" is prepared. Tetrodotoxin is stored in the skin, liver, intestines and other organs, even after the fish has been cooked.
This toxin causes paralysis, cramps, mental breakdown, and other symptoms. Death occurs within 6 hours after the poison enters.
It is known that every year several people die from painful death when tetrodotoxin is poisoned after consuming puffer.
5. Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is one of the fastest deadly poisons known to mankind. It can be in the form of crystals and a colorless gas with the smell of "bitter almonds". Cyanide can be found in certain foods and plants. It is found in cigarettes and is used to make plastic, photographs, extract gold from ore and to kill unwanted insects.
Cyanide was used in ancient times, and in the modern world it was the death penalty. Poisoning can occur by inhalation, ingestion, and even touching, causing symptoms such as cramps, respiratory failure, and in severe cases death, which can occur in a few minutes. It kills due to the fact that it binds to the iron in the blood cells, depriving them of their ability to carry oxygen.
6. Mercury and mercury poisoning
There are three forms of mercury that can be potentially hazardous: elemental, inorganic, and organic. Elemental mercury found in mercury thermometers, old fillings, and fluorescent lamps is non-toxic in contact, but can be fatal if inhaled.
Inhalation of mercury vapor (the metal quickly turns into gas at room temperature) affects the lungs and brain, turning off the central nervous system.
Inorganic mercury, which is used to make batteries, can be fatal if swallowed, resulting in kidney damage and other symptoms. Organic mercury found in fish and seafood is usually dangerous if exposed for a long time. Symptoms of poisoning may include memory loss, blindness, convulsions, and others.
7. Strychnine and strychnine poisoning
Strychnine is an odorless, white, bitter crystalline powder that can be ingested, inhaled, in solution and when given intravenously.
It is obtained from the seeds of the Chilibuha tree (Strychnos nux-vomica), which grows in India and Southeast Asia. Although often used as a pesticide, it can also be part of narcotic substances such as heroin and cocaine.
The degree of strychnine poisoning depends on the amount and route of entry into the body, but a small amount of this poison is enough to cause a serious condition. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle cramps, respiratory failure and even lead to brain death 30 minutes after exposure.
8. Arsenic and arsenic poisoning
Arsenic, which is the 33rd element in the periodic table, has long been synonymous with poison. It was often used as a favorite poison in political killings, as arsenic poisoning resembled cholera symptoms.
Arsenic is considered a heavy metal whose properties are similar to those of lead and mercury. In high concentrations, it can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as abdominal pain, cramps, coma, and death. In small amounts, it can contribute to a number of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
9. Poison curare
Curare is a mixture of various South American plants that were used for poisonous arrows. Curare was used for medical purposes in a highly dissolved form. The main poison is the alkaloid, which causes paralysis and death, as well as strychnine and hemlock. However, after paralysis of the respiratory system occurs, the heart may continue to beat.
Death from curare is slow and painful, as the victim remains conscious, but cannot move and speak. However, if you apply artificial respiration before the poison settles, you can save a person. Amazon tribes used curare for hunting animals, but the poisoned meat of animals was not dangerous for those who consumed it for food.
10. Batrachotoxin
Fortunately, the chances of meeting this poison are very small. Batrachotoxin, which is found in the skin of tiny frog-frogs, is one of the most powerful neutrotoxins in the world.
Frogs themselves do not produce poison, it accumulates from the products that they consume, mostly small bugs. The most dangerous content of poison was found in the species of frogs of the terrible leaf-climber living in Colombia.
One representative contains enough batrachotoxin to kill two dozen people or several elephants. The poison affects the nerves, especially around the heart, makes breathing difficult and quickly leads to death.
Alexander Petrov
Omega is a highly toxic substance that is part of the hemlock. Only 100 milligrams of it (8 leaves) will be enough to kill a person. Principle of work: all body systems, except the brain, gradually fail. So, being in your right mind, you begin to die slowly and painfully until you suffocate.
The most popular hemlock was among the Greeks. Interesting fact: this plant caused the death of Socrates in 399 BC. The Greeks thus executed him for contempt of the gods.
Source: wikipedia.org
No. 9 - Aconite
This poison is obtained from the plant fighter. It causes arrhythmia, which ends with suffocation. They say that even touching gloves without this glove can result in death. To detect traces of poison in the body is almost impossible. The most famous use case - Emperor Claudius poisoned his wife Agrippina, adding aconite to her mushroom dish.
Source: wikipedia.org
No. 8 - Belladonna
In the Middle Ages, belladonna was used as a female make-up (blush for cheeks). Special drops were even obtained from the plant to dilate the pupils (then it was considered fashionable). And you could swallow the leaves of belladonna - one is just enough for a person to die. Berries are also not a blunder: for death it is enough to eat only 10 pieces. Of the latter, in those days a special poisonous solution was made, with which the arrowheads were lubricated.
Source: wikipedia.org
No. 7 - Dimethylmercury
This is the slowest and most insidious killer. That's because even 0.1 milliliters that accidentally gets on your skin will be enough for a fatal outcome. The most high-profile case: in 1996, a chemistry professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire dropped a drop of poison on her hand. Dimethylmercury burned the latex glove, symptoms of poisoning appeared after 4 months. And after 10 months, the scientist died.
Source: wikipedia.org
No. 6 - Tetrodotoxin
This poison is found in blue-ringed octopuses and pufferfish (puffer). With the first, things are really bad: octopuses intentionally attack their victim with tetrodotoxin, imperceptibly pricking it with special needles. Death occurs in a few minutes, but the symptoms do not appear immediately - after paralysis occurs. The poison of one blue-ringed octopus is enough to kill 26 healthy men.
Puffer is easier: their poison is dangerous only when they are about to eat fish. It all depends on the correct preparation: if the chef was not mistaken, the whole tetrodoxin will evaporate. And you eat the dish without any consequences, except for the incredible adrenaline rush ...
Source: wikipedia.org
No. 5 - Polonium
Polonium is a radioactive poison, the antidote to which does not exist. The substance is so dangerous that just 1 gram of it can kill 1.5 million people in a few months. The most notorious use of polonium is the death of Alexander Litvinenko, a KGB-FSB officer. He died in 3 weeks, the reason is that 200 grams of poison were found in his body.
Source: wikipedia.org
No. 4 - Mercury
- elemental mercury - contained in thermometers. Instant death occurs if inhaled;
- inorganic mercury - used in the manufacture of batteries. Fatal if swallowed;
- organic mercury. Sources are tuna and swordfish. Eating them is recommended no more than 170 grams per month. Otherwise, organic mercury will begin to accumulate in the body.
The most famous use case is the poisoning of Amadeus Mozart. He was given mercury pills to treat syphilis.
The Swiss doctor and alchemist Paracelsus once correctly observed: “All substances are poisons; there is not one that is not. It’s all about the dose, ”and he was absolutely right.
Paradoxically: the human body is almost 70% water, but even water in large quantities is destructive. However, sometimes even a drop of a substance is enough, which can be fatal. From flowers to heavy metals and gases produced by man himself; Below is a list of the most dangerous poisons known to mankind.
Cyanide exists in the form of a colorless gas or crystals, but in any case it is quite dangerous. It smells of bitter almonds, and when ingested, in just a few minutes, symptoms such as headache, nausea, rapid breathing and increased heart rate, as well as weakness, appear. If measures are not taken in time, cyanide kills, depriving the body's cells of oxygen. And yes, cyanide can be obtained from apple seeds, but don’t worry if you eat a few. You will have to eat about ten apples before a sufficient amount of cyanide accumulates in your body, and you will feel all of the above. Please do not do this.
24. Hydrofluoric acid (Hydrofluoric acid)
Hydrofluoric acid is a poison used, inter alia, for the production of Teflon. In a liquid state, this substance easily seeps through the skin into the bloodstream. In the body, it reacts with calcium and can even destroy bone tissue. The worst thing is that the effect of contact is immediately apparent, which increases the likelihood of serious damage to health.
Arsenic is a natural crystalline semimetal and, possibly, one of the most famous and widespread poisons used as a murder weapon at the end of the 19th century. However, its use for such purposes began in the mid-1700s. The action of arsenic lasts from several hours to several days, but one result - death. Symptoms of poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea, which is why 120 years ago it was difficult to distinguish arsenic poisoning from dysentery or cholera.
22. Belladonna or Deadly nightshade
Belladonna or Deadly nightshade is a very poisonous herb (flower) with a romantic history. The alkaloid called atropine makes it poisonous. Absolutely the whole plant is poisonous, although to a different degree: the root contains the most poison, and the berries contain less. However, even two is enough to kill a child. Some people use belladonna to relax as a hallucinogen, and in Victorian times, women often put belladonna tincture in their eyes so that the pupils dilate and their eyes sparkle. Before death, under the influence of belladonna, a seizure develops, the pulse quickens and confusion occurs. Belladonna is not a toy for children.
21. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide)
Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless substance and slightly less dense than air. It poisons and then kills a person. Partially, carbon monoxide is so dangerous precisely because it is difficult to detect; sometimes called the "silent killer." This substance prevents the ingress of oxygen into the body for the normal functioning of cells. The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to a flu that runs without fever: headache, weakness, drowsiness, lethargy, insomnia, nausea, and confusion. Fortunately, a carbon monoxide detector can be purchased at any specialty store.
20. Beach apple tree
The most dangerous tree in all of North America grows in Florida. The Mancinella tree or Beach Apple has small green fruits that look like sweet apples. Do not eat them! And do not touch this tree! Do not sit next to him and pray that you will never find yourself under him in windy weather. If the juice gets on your skin, it will become blistered, and if it gets into your eyes, you may go blind. Juice is found in leaves and in the bark, so do not touch them!
Fluoride is a very poisonous, pale yellow gas that is corrosive and reacts with almost anything. For fluoride to be fatal, a concentration of 0.000025% is sufficient. It causes blindness and suffocation, like mustard gas, but its effect is much worse on the victim.
18. Sodium fluoroacetate
Compound 1080, also known as sodium fluoroacetate, is used as the pesticide. In its natural form, it is found in some plant species in Africa, Brazil and Australia. The terrible truth of this odorless and tasteless deadly poison is that there is no antidote to it. Oddly enough, the bodies of those who died from exposure to sodium fluoroacetate remain poisonous for a whole year.
The most dangerous artificially created poison is called dioxin - it takes only 50 micrograms to kill an adult. This is the third most toxic poison known to science, 60 times more toxic than cyanide.
16. Dimethylmercury (neurotoxin)
Dimethylmercury (neurotoxin) is a terrible poison, since it can penetrate most standard protective equipment, for example, through thick latex gloves. This is exactly what happened to a chemist named Karen Vetterhan in 1996. A single drop of a colorless liquid hit the gloved hand, and that’s it. Symptoms began to manifest FOUR MONTHS later, and six months later she died.
15. Aconite (Wrestler)
Aconite (Wrestler) also known as the “monk's hood”, “wolf poison”, “leopard venom”, “female curse”, “devil's helmet”, “queen of poisons” and “blue rocket”. This is almost a whole genus, which includes more than 250 herbs, most of which are extremely toxic. Flowers can be either blue or yellow. Some of the plants have been used not only in folk medicine, but also as a murder weapon over the past decade.
The toxin found in poisonous mushrooms is called amatoxin. It acts on the cells of the liver and kidneys and kills them within a few days. May affect the heart and central nervous system. There is treatment, but the result is not guaranteed. The poison is resistant to temperature and cannot be eliminated by drying. Therefore, if you are not 100% sure of the safety of the collected mushrooms, do not eat them.
In fact, anthrax is a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. What makes you sick is not so much a bacterium as a toxin that it produces when it enters the body. Bacillus Anthracis may enter the system through the skin, mouth, or respiratory tract. Mortality from anthrax transmitted by airborne droplets reaches 75% even though there is a cure.
12. The hemlock plant
Hemlock is a classic poisonous plant that was regularly used for execution in ancient Greece. There are several varieties, and in North America, water hemlock is the most common plant. After eating it, you can die, despite this, people still add hemlock to the salad, considering it an acceptable ingredient. Water hemlock causes painful and severe convulsions, convulsions and tremors. Having experienced the full power of a white-headed, but surviving people, subsequently may suffer from amnesia. Aquatic hemlock is considered the deadliest plant in North America. Watch out for young children and even teenagers as they walk outside! Do not eat anything if you are not 100% sure of its safety.
11. Strychnine
Strychnine is commonly used to kill small mammals and birds and is often the main component of rat poison. In high doses, strychnine is dangerous for people. It can be swallowed, inhaled, or taken into the body through the skin. First symptoms: painful muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. Muscle contractions ultimately lead to suffocation. Death can occur within half an hour. This is a very unpleasant way to die, both for humans and for rats.
Most experts in such things consider maytotoxin to be the most powerful marine toxin. It is found in dinoflagellate algae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. For mice, meiototoxin is the most toxic of non-protein toxins.
Mercury is a heavy metal that is quite toxic to humans if inhaled or touched. Touching can lead to flaking of the skin, and if you inhale the mercury vapor, it will eventually turn off your central nervous system, and it will end in death. Prior to this, kidney failure, memory loss, brain damage, and blindness are likely to occur.
8. Polonium
Polonium is a radioactive chemical element. Its most common form is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrocyanic acid. It emits alpha particles (not compatible with organic tissues). Alpha particles cannot penetrate the skin, so polonium must be taken orally or injected to the victim. However, if this happens, the result will not be long in coming. According to one theory, a gram of polonium 210 is introduced into the body. can kill up to ten million people, causing radiation poisoning first and then cancer.
The tree of suicides or Cerbera odollam acts by disrupting the natural rhythm of the heart and often causing death. A member of the same family as Oleander, the plant was often used to conduct an “innocence test” in Madagascar. An estimated 3,000 people per year died from Cerberus poison before the practice was declared illegal in 1861. (If a person survived, then he was found not guilty. If he died, it no longer mattered.)
Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, and it is an incredibly powerful neurotoxin. It causes paralysis, which can lead to death. Botulinum toxin is known by its commercial name - Botox. Yes, this is what the doctor injects into your mom's forehead to make it less wrinkled (or into the neck to help with migraines), which causes muscle paralysis.
5. Pufferfish
Pufferfish is considered a delicacy in some countries where it is called Fugu; this is a dish for which few are literally ready to die. Why is death happening? Because the gut of the fish contains tetrodotoxin, and in Japan about 5 people per year die from the use of puffer fish as a result of a violation of cooking technology. But foodies continue to persevere.
4. Gas Zarin
Gas Zarin makes you experience the worst moments in life. The chest is compressed, stronger and stronger, and then ... death comes. Although the use of Zarin was declared illegal in 1995, they did not stop using it in terrorist attacks.
3. The Poison Arrow
The Golden Frog Poisonous Arrow is tiny, charming and very dangerous. Just one frog the size of a phalanx of the thumb contains enough neurotoxin to kill ten people! A dose of approximately two salt crystals is enough to kill an adult. This is why some Amazon tribes used poison, inflicting it on the tips of hunting arrows. One touch of such an arrow kills in a few minutes! Strolling in the Amazon forests, follow the rule: do not touch the red, blue, green and especially yellow frogs.
Ricin is even more dangerous than anthrax. This substance is obtained from Castor bean beans, the same plant from which castor oil is extracted. This poison is especially toxic if inhaled, and its pinches are enough to kill an adult.
1. "VX"
Codenamed “Purple Possum,” the VX Group is the most powerful neuroparalytic gas on Earth. It was created by man, and for this you can "thank" the United Kingdom. Technically, it was banned in 1993, and the US government allegedly gave the order to destroy its reserves, but is it really so, one can only guess.