Strychnine belongs to the class of psychotropic drugs, with the active ingredient being Strychnine sulfate. It helps to support the nervous system and muscles, and is effective in treating conditions such as limb paralysis, frequent urination, bladder colon, nerve paralysis, etc
1. What is Strychnine?
Strychnine is a medication with the active ingredient Strychnine sulfate, an alkaloid derived from the seeds of the Strychnos plant, which primarily acts on the spinal cord through a selective mechanism and competitively antagonizes glycine on glycine receptors in the spinal cord, stimulating spinal reflexes, enhancing nerve conduction, nutrition, and muscle activity.
Strychnine also stimulates digestion, increases gastric secretion and intestinal motility, which helps improve appetite and digestion. Additionally, it increases the sensitivity of sensory organs by stimulating centers for hearing, vision, and smell. Strychnine is commonly prescribed for the following conditions:
- Support for the nervous system and muscles;
- Treatment for patients with limb paralysis, frequent urination, bladder colon;
- Treatment for patients with nerve paralysis, muscle fatigue, erectile dysfunction, and elderly individuals recovering from illness;
- Stimulating digestion for patients recovering from illness;
- Treatment of Barbiturate sleep drug poisoning and stimulation in cases of brain surgery.
The medication is contraindicated in cases of: hypertension, arteriosclerosis, acute vasculitis, hepatitis, epilepsy, tetany and Basedow’s disease.
2. Dosage of Strychnine medication
Strychnine is commonly formulated as an injectable solution for subcutaneous or intramuscular administration. The dosage of Strychnine may vary depending on the patient and the treatment goal, as outlined below:
- Subcutaneous injection, adults: 0.5–1 mg per dose, 2–3 times per day;
- Intramuscular injection: 1 mg, 2 times per day;
- For neuroparalysis, the dose should be gradually increased, starting with 2 mg, increasing by 1 mg per day, and may reach up to 5 mg/day, then gradually reduced by 2 mg each day to the initial dose;
- Maximum dosage for adults: 2 mg per dose, 5 mg per day;
- Maximum dosage for children over 2 years old: 0.25 mg per dose, 0.5 mg per day;
- Children under 2 years old should not be given Strychnine;
In cases of Strychnine overdose, poisoning can occur within 15–30 minutes and may persist for several hours, presenting with symptoms such as:
- Muscle spasms and progressive muscle pain throughout the body, leading to a posture resembling tetanus;
- Strychnine face: Facial muscle contraction causing a grimace, discomfort, and a fixed expression. Contraction of the mouth muscles exposes both sets of teeth;
- Muscle spasms triggered by even a light stimulus, such as palpation, examination;
- Increased body temperature, acute rhabdomyolysis, compartment syndrome, myoglobinuria, and acute kidney failure;
The primary approach in managing Strychnine poisoning is to control the airway and respiration. In addition, it is essential to treat any hyperthermia and metabolic acidosis if present, while minimizing stimuli to the patient. Subsequently, muscle rigidity should be treated, measures to limit absorption (such as gastric lavage, uses activated charcoal) should be implemented and to enhance the elimination of the toxin.
3. Side effects of Strychnine
Some patients may experience the following side effects when using Strychnine:
- Mild allergic reactions such as rashes, itching, skin redness;
- High doses may cause toxicity due to excessive stimulation of the nervous system, potentially leading to death from respiratory failure.
If adverse reactions occur after using Strychnine, it is crucial to immediately discontinue the medication. In cases of severe sensitivity or allergic reactions, supportive treatments should be provided, including airway management, oxygen therapy, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine.
This article has provided information about what Strychnine is, its dosage, and important considerations for its use. To ensure safety and maximize therapeutic efficacy, Strychnine should be used according to a doctor's instructions, and the dose should not be adjusted or shared with others without professional guidance.
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