| Author/s | Wood C, Coulson J, Thompson J, Bonner S |
| Year | 2020 |
| Type of publication | Journal article |
| Link | https://doi.org/10.2478/jccm-2020-0016 |
| Abstract | Background: Aconite is one of the most toxic known herbs, widely used for centuries as an essential Chinese medi-cine, but also for deliberate poisoning throughout history. Clinically indicated in herbal medicine for a range of ail-ments from headaches to muscle spasm, unfortunately the narrow therapeutic window may lead to a range of toxic presentations. The mechanism of action of the pharmacologically active compounds in Aconite relate to the activation of voltage gated sodium channels within a range of tissue including myocardial, neuronal and smooth muscle leading to persistent cellular activity. Case presentation: We report on a rare case of a fifty year old male with intentional aconite overdose presenting with refractory cardiovascular instability from persistent life threatening ar-rhythmias, respiratory failure and seizure activity. Conclusion: An overview of Aconite, its history, pharmacological effects, treatment of overdose and outcomes is presented. |