The Poison Post ®
March 2021 Edition
Most parents and caregivers know the importance of keeping medicine up and away, out of sight and reach of young children. Even so, leaving medicine in convenient locations like purses, pill organizers, and countertops is quite common. This means easy access for curious children and can lead to unintentional poisonings. Read More
Holi is a colorful spring Hindu festival. Part of the celebration is throwing brightly colored powders into the air and onto others. These powders should be from safe and natural sources, but some contain metals and other potentially dangerous substances. Safely enjoy your Holi celebrations by covering your skin, eyes, nose, and mouth. Read More
The same qualities that make oven and grill cleaners desirable and effective–dissolving tough, baked-on food and grease–also make them poisonous. Oven and grill cleaners often have a high pH, making them alkaline corrosives. Upon contact, via any route, they can cause tissue damage, burns, and, at the very least, irritation. Read More
Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the air we breathe. Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold and is used in medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, and even culinary settings where extreme cold is required. Although liquid nitrogen is generally inert if untouched, it has the potential to cause severe injury and even death if handled improperly. Read More
Brexpiprazole is an antipsychotic medicine that is added to an antidepressant to treat major depression and is used alone to treat schizophrenia. There is a low risk of adverse effects, such as restlessness, drowsiness, and slight weight gain. If someone takes more than a usual dose of brexpiprazole, medical attention might be needed. Read More
The California poppy (Echscholzia californica) has been used as an herbal product and can be purchased as capsules, tablets, loose leaves for tea, and as an extract. The plant contains several alkaloids that some believe can help with sleep, anxiety, and pain. However, there are no useful studies conducted in humans that support these claims. Read More
Styptic pencils contain aluminum compounds and are used to stop bleeding. The most common use for styptic pencils is to treat small cuts caused by shaving. When applied to the skin, they harden or coagulate the surface of a wound. However, they are not meant to be consumed and may cause stomach upset or nausea if swallowed. Read More
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