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Herbal drugs are increasingly marketed as a “safe” alternative to illicit drugs. The variety of constituents in these compounds and their potential pharmacological activity can present difficulties for the emergency physician in management of intoxicated patients. After a case at a recent music festival, we present a case report and review of herbal compounds.
CASE REPORT
A 17 year old women was brought to the festival medical base by first aid ambulance. Friends said she had taken herbal drugs (“road runners”) and alcohol. She was fully conscious, hyperventilating, tachycardic (pulse 155 bpm) with dilated pupils (6 mm). She became increasingly agitated and five minutes after arrival had a grand mal seizure, which was terminated with 5 mg intravenous diazemuls. She was transferred to a local emergency department and on arrival was fully alert, but still tachycardic. She was also noted to have nystagmus at this time. Routine blood tests (full blood count, urea, and electrolytes) were normal. She had no previous history of seizures. After a period of four hours of observation, she was discharged home with a responsible adult.
There is little awareness among healthcare professionals of these drugs and possible side …