Title: Getting "high" on household spices.<br/>Author: Hong Kim<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/526/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
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There are three commonly household spices that can be abuse/misused or cause toxicity after exposure.</p>
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<strong>Pure vanilla extract</strong> contains at least 35% ethanol by volume per US Food and Drug Administration standards</p>
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Results in alcohol intoxication</li>
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Ingestion of 1.3 mL/kg in child will result in blood ethanol concentration of 100 mg/dL</li>
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<strong>Nutmeg</strong> contains myristicin – serotonergic agonist that possess psychomimetic properties. </p>
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Typical recreational dose: 5-30 gm. (tablespoon of ground nutmeg: 7 gm).</li>
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Clinical effects:</p>
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GI symptoms: nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain</li>
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Cardiovascular: hypertension and tachycardia</li>
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CNS: hallucination, paranoia, seizure</li>
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Others: flushing, mydriasis</li>
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<strong>Cinnamon</strong> contains cinnamaldehyde and eugenol – local irritants.</p>
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Can cause contact dermatitis and ulceration from topical application</li>
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Inhalation of cinnamon can result in chronic and significant pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis</li>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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Johnson-Arbor K et al. Stoned on spices: a mini-review of three commonly abuse housenold spices. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2020</p>
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<span style="font-family: OpenSans; font-size: 10pt; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2020.1840579</span></p>
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