Forensic Medicine: Common Poisons, Symptoms, and Treatment

Poison	Source/Type	Symptoms	Treatment
Arsenic	Metalloid, found in pesticides and contaminated water	Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, darkened urine, Mee’s lines on nails	Gastric lavage, Dimercaprol (BAL), Succimer
Mercury	Elemental, inorganic, and organic mercury compounds	Tremors, gingivitis, neurological damage, kidney failure	Activated charcoal, Dimercaprol, Succimer
Cyanide	Industrial chemicals, certain plants like cassava	Headache, confusion, respiratory distress, cherry-red skin	Amyl nitrite, sodium thiosulfate, hydroxocobalamin
Carbon Monoxide	Incomplete combustion of fuels	Headache, dizziness, confusion, cherry-pink skin	100% oxygen therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Organophosphates	Insecticides	Salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation (SLUD), muscle twitching	Atropine, pralidoxime (2-PAM)
Ethylene Glycol	Antifreeze	Drunken behavior, metabolic acidosis, kidney failure	Fomepizole, ethanol, dialysis
Methanol	Industrial solvents, poorly distilled spirits	Blindness, metabolic acidosis, seizures	Fomepizole, ethanol, dialysis
Lead	Paint, pipes, batteries	Abdominal pain, anemia, encephalopathy	EDTA, Dimercaprol, Succimer
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)	Overdose of common pain reliever	Liver failure, jaundice, nausea	N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
Strychnine	Seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica	Severe muscle spasms, opisthotonos, respiratory failure	Diazepam, activated charcoal, supportive care
Atropine	Deadly nightshade, Jimsonweed	Dry mouth, blurred vision, hallucinations	Physostigmine, activated charcoal
Ricin	Castor beans	Severe vomiting, diarrhea, organ failure	Supportive care, no specific antidote
Snake Venom	Various species of venomous snakes	Swelling, bleeding, paralysis, respiratory failure	Antivenom, supportive care
Amanita Phalloides	Death cap mushroom	Severe abdominal pain, liver and kidney failure	Activated charcoal, silibinin, liver transplant
Barbiturates	Depressant drugs	Drowsiness, respiratory depression, hypotension	Activated charcoal, supportive care
Opioids	Morphine, heroin, fentanyl	Respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness	Naloxone (Narcan), supportive care
Iron	Iron supplements (overdose)	Vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure, metabolic acidosis	Deferoxamine, supportive care
Alcohol (Ethanol)	Beverages, industrial alcohols	Drowsiness, vomiting, respiratory depression	Supportive care, thiamine
Phosphorus	Fireworks, rat poison	Garlic-like breath odor, vomiting, liver damage	Gastric lavage, supportive care
Zinc Phosphide	Rodenticides	Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, hypotension	Activated charcoal, supportive care
Digoxin	Foxglove plant	Nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, arrhythmias	Digoxin-specific antibodies
Hydrofluoric Acid	Industrial applications	Severe burns, hypocalcemia, cardiac arrest	Calcium gluconate gel, supportive care