The Effects of Strychnine on Humans

Strychnine is an alkaloid that belongs to the same family as morphine, quinine, ephedrine and nicotine. It comes from the seeds of the Strychnos nux-vomica tree found in Southeast Asia and India. Principally found in rat poison, it is also used in small doses as a stimulant in veterinary practice. Strychnine can be fatal to humans if ingested at a level approaching 100 to 200 milligrams, though lower doses have also been known to cause death, primarily by asphyxiation. Whether inhaled, swallowed or absorbed, strychnine poisoning leads to one of the more gruesome and painful toxic reactions seen in humans.

Agitation

• The initial onset of strychnine symptoms begins 15 to 30 minutes after exposure, sometimes beginning with a violent convulsion, but more often manifesting itself as a growing sense of agitation and restlessness. The onset of apprehension and increased response to stimuli are a result of inhibitory nerve impulse blockage and an increasingly sensitized state. At some point, this heightened perception begins to alternate with convulsions.

Convulsions

• Because strychnine increases the reflex irritability in the spinal cord, convulsions are often marked by a painful arching of the back as the muscles contract powerfully and out of control. What might begin as simple cramps soon devolve into powerful and agonizing convulsions that subside momentarily, but return with a vengeance with a simple touch or sound. Spasms can also affect the legs, face, hands and even the mouth, which can become fixed in a hideous grin.

Pain

• Depending on the level of exposure, strychnine poisoning causes extreme pain and soreness in various parts of the body, due to intense muscle cramping. There may be several periods of recovery and relaxation followed by another round of cramps until the victim either succumbs to the effects of the poison or recovers from the toxic shock to the system. Though some poisons may lead to a quick and relatively peaceful end, strychnine is not one of them. The intense pain and outward physical manifestations of the body trying to cope with the substance are not easy to watch.

Breathing

• Death from strychnine poisoning is not uncommon. The official cause is asphyxiation due to respiratory failure. Respiratory failure results from muscles that are exhausted by the convulsions and no longer able to move the lungs as needed. Dilated pupils and a blue pallor to the skin are signs that death is near. People who survive the immediate toxic effects of strychnine exposure often suffer no long-term health effects. Long-term, low exposure can lead to brain damage and kidney failure.