Info on oleander - Is yellow oleander to be avoided??

[Guest guest]

Note this applies to raw oleander:

 

Oleander

 

Adverse Reactions

 

Phytodermatitis caused by contact with oleander has been frequently

reported. The dermatitis may result when crushed leaves of the shrub

come into contact with the skin of a person who is sensitive because

of previous exposure. The crushed leaves and stems have been reported

to be irritating, but the allergenic properties have not been

adequately studied. Generally, no positive patch test can be obtained. 7

Toxicology

 

The entire oleander plant contains toxic cardiac glycosides. However,

the highest levels are found in the roots and seeds. Even smoke from

the plant and water in which the plant has been immersed can be toxic. 1

 

In birds, as little as 0.12 to 0.7 g of the plant has caused death. 8

As few as 15 to 20 g of fresh leaves can be fatal to a horse, and 1 to

5 g can be lethal to a sheep. 3 Deaths have been reported in children

who ingested a handful of flowers and in adults who used the fresh

twigs as meat skewers; the nectar makes honey toxic. 3 , 9

Additionally, oleander reportedly was used in a case of deliberate

poisoning by chronic administration of the roots of the plant over an

8-week period. 10

 

Symptoms of oleander toxicity include pain in the oral cavity, nausea,

emesis, abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea. Special attention must

be given to cardiac function. The cardiac glycosides may induce

conduction defects. Most common are defects affecting the sinus or AV

nodes with PR interval prolongation and progression to

atrioventricular dissociation. 11 Additionally, systemic hyperkalemia

induced by the plant may worsen cardiac function. 1

 

Oleander toxicity should be managed aggressively. Gastric lavage or

induced emesis should be performed. Some experts have reported that

activated charcoal may be administered orally. ECG monitoring for

cardiac impairment and monitoring of serum potassium levels should be

performed frequently. 1 The conduction defects can usually be managed

with atropine and isoproterenol, which contain similar compounds. 12

Anti-digoxin Fab fragments have been shown to be a safe and effective

treatment for serious cardiac arrhythmias induced by yellow oleander.

Administration of anti-digoxin antibodies can restore sinus rhythm and

rapidly correct bradycardia and hyperkalemia. However, the lower

affinity of digoxin-specific Fab for nondigoxin cardiac glycosides in

oleander results in a larger dose requirement than for usual digoxin

toxicity. 13

 

In a patient who ingested oleander, the serum digoxin levels were high

(4.4 ng/mL) and were associated with bradyarrhythmias and

tachyarrhythmias, which decreased as the serum concentration of the

toxin decreased. 14 Another patient who ingested 7 oleander leaves in

a suicide attempt had digoxin serum levels of 5.69 nmol/L, using a

digoxin radioimmunoassay. This assay confirmed the toxicity, but did

not predict the severity of the toxicity

[Guest guest]

The info you posted applies only to raw oleander - NOT properly

prepared oleander, where a normal full dose contains about 1/40th of

the cardiac glycosides of a normal full dose of digoxin/digitalis.

 

In a given year raw oleander poisoning is responsible for 0 to 3

deaths worldwide. On the other hand, there has never been a single

death or life threatening reaction reported due to properly prepared

and administered oleander.

 

Regarding " yellow oleander " there is a separate variety of oleander

(Thevetia peruviana, aka Mexican oleander) which has yellow flowers

and round seed pods which should be avoided. Nerium oleander has

yellow flowered cultivars, but the seed pods are elongated and bean-like.

 

 

oleander soup , " mcnjnj " <olde_silas wrote:

>

> Note this applies to raw oleander:

>

> Oleander

>

> Adverse Reactions

>

> Phytodermatitis caused by contact with oleander has been frequently

> reported. The dermatitis may result when crushed leaves of the shrub

> come into contact with the skin of a person who is sensitive because

> of previous exposure. The crushed leaves and stems have been reported

> to be irritating, but the allergenic properties have not been

> adequately studied. Generally, no positive patch test can be obtained. 7

> Toxicology

>

> The entire oleander plant contains toxic cardiac glycosides. However,

> the highest levels are found in the roots and seeds. Even smoke from

> the plant and water in which the plant has been immersed can be toxic. 1

>

> In birds, as little as 0.12 to 0.7 g of the plant has caused death. 8

> As few as 15 to 20 g of fresh leaves can be fatal to a horse, and 1 to

> 5 g can be lethal to a sheep. 3 Deaths have been reported in children

> who ingested a handful of flowers and in adults who used the fresh

> twigs as meat skewers; the nectar makes honey toxic. 3 , 9

> Additionally, oleander reportedly was used in a case of deliberate

> poisoning by chronic administration of the roots of the plant over an

> 8-week period. 10

>

> Symptoms of oleander toxicity include pain in the oral cavity, nausea,

> emesis, abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea. Special attention must

> be given to cardiac function. The cardiac glycosides may induce

> conduction defects. Most common are defects affecting the sinus or AV

> nodes with PR interval prolongation and progression to

> atrioventricular dissociation. 11 Additionally, systemic hyperkalemia

> induced by the plant may worsen cardiac function. 1

>

> Oleander toxicity should be managed aggressively. Gastric lavage or

> induced emesis should be performed. Some experts have reported that

> activated charcoal may be administered orally. ECG monitoring for

> cardiac impairment and monitoring of serum potassium levels should be

> performed frequently. 1 The conduction defects can usually be managed

> with atropine and isoproterenol, which contain similar compounds. 12

> Anti-digoxin Fab fragments have been shown to be a safe and effective

> treatment for serious cardiac arrhythmias induced by yellow oleander.

> Administration of anti-digoxin antibodies can restore sinus rhythm and

> rapidly correct bradycardia and hyperkalemia. However, the lower

> affinity of digoxin-specific Fab for nondigoxin cardiac glycosides in

> oleander results in a larger dose requirement than for usual digoxin

> toxicity. 13

>

> In a patient who ingested oleander, the serum digoxin levels were high

> (4.4 ng/mL) and were associated with bradyarrhythmias and

> tachyarrhythmias, which decreased as the serum concentration of the

> toxin decreased. 14 Another patient who ingested 7 oleander leaves in

> a suicide attempt had digoxin serum levels of 5.69 nmol/L, using a

> digoxin radioimmunoassay. This assay confirmed the toxicity, but did

> not predict the severity of the toxicity

>