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Poisoning with Amitraz

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Toxicological Reviews

Abstract

Amitraz, an insecticide and veterinary medicine, has been available in many countries since 1974 but reports of poisoning with it have only become prominent in the last 7 years. The vast majority of cases have occurred in Turkey and have involved children. The data available, both human and animal, do not allow clear separation of the features of toxicity of amitraz from those of the hydrocarbon solvents in which it is commonly dissolved. Amitraz stimulates α2-adrenoceptors resulting in impairment of consciousness, respiratory depression, convulsions, bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia and hypoglycaemia. Even the most severely poisoned patients recover with nothing more than intensive care; only one possible death has been documented. Animal studies indicate that the α2-adrenoceptor antagonists, yohimbine and atipamezole, can reverse amitraz-induced toxicity but they have not been assessed in poisoned humans.

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Table I.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this manuscript. The author has no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this manuscript.

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  1. National Poisons Information Service (Birmingham Centre), City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK

    Alex T. Proudfoot

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  1. Alex T. Proudfoot
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Proudfoot, A.T. Poisoning with Amitraz. Toxicol Rev 22, 71–74 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00139709-200322020-00001

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