Illicit cathinone ("Hagigat") poisoning.
BACKGROUND
Khat leaves (mainly cathinone and cathine) have been chewed for centuries as stimulants. Hagigat (capsules of 200 mg cathinone) have been marketed in Israel as a natural stimulant and aphrodisiac. The consequences of illicit exposure to cathinone are reported.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of calls to the Poison Center regarding exposure to Hagigat during the course of 10 months. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from patients' records and telephone follow up was performed.


RESULTS
Data of 34 consecutive patients aged 16-54 years were analyzed. The amount consumed was (1/2)-6 capsules (ingestion-32, sniffing-2). Main clinical manifestations were headache, vomiting, hypertension, nausea, tachycardia, dyspnea, chest pain, and myalgia. Main complications were myocardial ischemia (3), pulmonary edema (2), and intracerebral hemorrhage (1), all in young subjects. Treatment was supportive; one patient underwent neurosurgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to illicitly synthesized cathinone is associated with serious cardiovascular and neurological toxicity, even in young subjects.
Bentur
Yedidia
Y
Israel Poison Information Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel. d_bentur@rambam.health.gov.il
Bloom-Krasik
Anna
A
Raikhlin-Eisenkraft
Bianca
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000506:poisoning*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
D000470:Alkaloids; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C023665:cathinone