Visine Poisoning

If you or someone you know might have ingested Visine or any other toxic substance, please do not waste your time on my blog. Contact a poison control center (in the U.S., call 800-222-1222), or dial 911.

Visine is, in fact, toxic. Its active ingredient is Tetrahydrozoline, a substance which, even in small doses, has caused nausea, vomiting, dangerously low blood pressure, dangerously low body temperature, and comas. The makers of Visine (Pfizer) are very clear: "If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."

TheUrbanSherpa.com is not a poison control center, but, every day, someone comes to this site looking for information on "Visine poisoning." The Internet is rife with stories of practical jokesters slipping Visine into people's drinks, because, the story goes, ingesting it causes sudden diarrhea. According to Snopes, diarrhea is one of the few side effects you won't get from Visine.

If you are trying to give someone the runs, my advice is stick to good, old-fashioned, ground-up Exlax: it's safer and has an almost-pleasant chocolatey taste. It mixes well with brownies, cake, and Coca Cola. Perhaps more to the point, please remember that secreting noxious substances into food and drink for the purpose of bringing harm to others is called poisoning, and most states, it's a felony offense.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by The Urban Sherpa, with additional support from Pfizer and Snopes.com.