Poisoning Causes

Poisons include highly toxic chemicals not meant for human ingestion or contact, such as cyanide, paint thinners, or household cleaning products.

Many poisons, however, are substances meant for humans to eat, including foods and medicines.

Foods

• Some mushrooms are poisonous

• Drinking water contaminated by agricultural or industrial chemicals

• Food that has not been properly prepared or handled

Drugs

Drugs that are helpful in therapeutic doses may be deadly when taken in excess.

Examples include:

• Beta blockers: Beta blockers are a class of drugs used to treat heart conditions (for example, angina, abnormal heart rhythms) and other conditions, for example, high blood pressure, migraine headache prevention, social phobia, and certain types of tremors. In excess, they can cause difficulty breathing, coma, and heart failure.
  
  
• Warfarin (Coumadin): Coumadin is a blood thinner used to prevent blood clots. It is the active ingredient in many rat poisons and may cause heavy bleeding and death if too much is taken.
  
  
• Vitamins: Vitamins, especially A and D, if taken in large amounts can cause liver problems and death.