Gelsemium is a genus of flowering plants growing in Southeast Asia. The genus produces a wide range of alkaloids and other compounds, some of which have beneficial properties while others are highly toxic. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a means of suicide.
A very large number of alkaloids may be produced (at least 121) with the most toxic gelsenicine.
Clinical effects may include:
(1) severe dizziness or vertigo
(2) rapid onset respiratory failure
(3) coma
(4) burning throat
(5) nausea and vomiting
(6) abdominal pain
(7) blurred vision
(8) dysarthria
(9) dysphagia
(10) gait ataxia
(11) seizures
(12) agitation
(13) numbness
(14) chest tightness
(15) tachypnea
(16) dyspnea
(17) cyanosis
(18) palpitations
(19) bradycardia or tachycardia
(20) hypotension
(21) cardiac arrest
Screening the urine and body fluids for gelsemine, koumine or other alkaloids can help confirm the diagnosis.
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