Physostigmine as treatment for severe CNS anticholinergic toxicity

Acute Bilateral Fixed Mydriasis Caused by Lupini Bean Intoxication

Lupini beans are legume seeds of the genus Lupinus, consumed in many parts of the world. The main species are Lupinus mutabilis, Lupius angustifolius, and Lupinus albus. The latter is commonly eaten as a snack in Mediterranean countries. The beans are very rich in alkaloids, which give them a bitter taste. One of these alkaloids was shown to cause anticholinergic effects. Lupini beans, if improperly prepared, can cause toxicity manifesting as an anticholinergic syndrome. We present the case of a 50-y-old woman who presented with bilateral mydriasis, mouth dryness, and anxiety. We confirmed that the patient consumed partially debittered lupini beans a few hours before presentation. The rest of her physical and ophthalmic examination results were within normal limits. Her symptoms resolved without therapy within 12 h from presentation and were attributed to ingestion of incorrectly prepared lupine seeds.

Common Substances of Abuse

Adolescent substance abuse remains common, with almost a third of adolescents admitting to ethanol use, and a quarter admitting to illicit drug use. It is essential for pediatricians to regularly screen adolescent patients for substance use, because early initiation of drug use has been associated with physical, behavioral, and social health risks. Adolescents abuse what is common and readily available; this includes ethanol, over-the-counter products, marijuana, and inhalants. The most common and effective clinical treatments for significant toxicity from substances of abuse is symptomatic and supportive care including hemodynamic support, respiratory support, and sedation to control psychomotor agitation.

Atropine autoinjector use as a suicidal gesture

Atropine autoinjectors are used by the U.S. military as pre-hospital first-line therapy for nerve agent exposure. This case report examines the misuse of these devices in a suicide attempt. An anticholinergic toxidrome resulted from this misuse. The patient was successfully treated.

Anticholinergic toxicity associated with lupin seed ingestion: case report

We describe a case of acute poisoning in a 51-year-old female patient who presented to the Emergency Department with weakness, anxiety, dry mouth, bilateral mydriasis and lid drop. In differential diagnosis, botulism, Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis were considered, as well as cerebral haematoma because of a cranial injury a week before. Symptoms, which resolved within 12 h without any therapy, were instead related to the ingestion of lupin seeds.