Attempted suicide with pilocarpine eyedrops.

Abstract

To alert ophthalmologists about the hazards of poisoning with ophthalmic solutions. We treated an 18-year-old man who attempted suicide by drinking and self-injecting pilocarpine eyedrops. He had severe signs of parasympathomimetic poisoning. Because of heavy and repeated vomiting and the early administration of intravenous atropine, he fully recovered. Because they are usually stored in household refrigerators and are readily accessible, the potential hazard of poisoning with ophthalmic solutions is worth emphasizing.